‘Wicked: For Good’ – The Sequel’s New Title Reveals a Special, Emotional Meaning
Universal Pictures has officially unveiled the title for the highly anticipated second Wicked film, and fans are in for an emotional ride. On December 16, it was announced that the sequel will be called Wicked: For Good. While the title alone promises a heart-wrenching farewell, the release date remains locked for November 21, 2025, leaving audiences eager yet patient to see the conclusion of Elphaba and Glinda’s story.
The announcement came as a surprise to many, considering the sequel had been previously marketed as Wicked: Part Two. However, sharp-eyed fans might have caught subtle hints leading up to the reveal — teases that pay homage to a beloved song from the original Broadway production.
‘For Good’ is not just a title — it’s a promise. The name is a direct reference to the poignant song of the same name in the Wicked musical. As the emotional penultimate number (often referred to in Broadway as the ‘11 o’clock number’), For Good serves as a farewell between Elphaba and Glinda. The two characters sing about how their friendship has profoundly changed them, both for the better and forever — a dual meaning that resonates deeply with fans.
The moment is bittersweet, marking their final goodbye. In the musical, Elphaba hands Glinda the Grimmerie (a spellbook) before she ‘melts’ at Dorothy’s hands. However, it’s later revealed that Elphaba’s death was a ruse devised with Fiyero to end the witch hunt against her. Even so, the parting remains heartbreakingly final. Whether Glinda realizes Elphaba is alive is left ambiguous, but the song solidifies their bond and their irreversible parting. By naming the film Wicked: For Good, the sequel acknowledges both the emotional depth of their story and its conclusion. It firmly signals that this will be the final chapter of Glinda and Elphaba’s journey — ‘for good,’ in every sense of the phrase. Fans hoping for a third installment will need to cherish what this film offers, as the title makes it clear: their story ends here.
The title reveal may have come as a surprise, but clues were planted long before the announcement. Back in May 2023, Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) teased the sequel’s script on social media. The working title? Wicked Part Two: For Good. The hint slipped under the radar at the time, overshadowed by the buzz surrounding the first film. But in hindsight, Erivo’s post was a quiet confirmation of the emotional arc the sequel would follow.
Director Jon M. Chu subtly wove the instrumental of For Good into the first film’s score. The melody surfaced during significant moments that hinted at Glinda and Elphaba’s bittersweet fate. For example, when a villager asks Glinda if she was friends with Elphaba following her supposed death, the familiar strains of For Good play softly in the background — a foreshadowing of their final goodbye to come.
With Wicked: For Good, the sequel promises to deliver the emotional weight and finality of the original Broadway musical. Fans can expect tearful goodbyes, soaring performances from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and a musical journey that will ‘change’ audiences, as the song says, ‘for good.’ While the wait until November 2025 may feel long, the title announcement solidifies one thing: the story of Elphaba and Glinda will conclude with the grace, emotion, and power it deserves.
