The women of Oz have once again captivated audiences, this time at CinemaCon, as they celebrated the monumental success of Wicked and unveiled a first look at its much-anticipated sequel. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the dynamic duo behind Elphaba and Glinda, graced the stage to reflect on the past year’s triumphs and tease what’s next.

“It has been quite a year,” Erivo told the packed theater of industry professionals—an understatement given the Broadway adaptation’s meteoric rise. Wicked soared to 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress. It also became the third-highest-grossing domestic film of 2024, raking in an impressive $433 million and cementing its place in pop culture.

Now, audiences are preparing for another magical journey, as Erivo and Grande debuted the first trailer for Wicked: For Good, set to hit theaters on November 21.

The Next Chapter: A Glimpse at Wicked: For Good

The newly revealed footage picks up where Wicked left off, with Elphaba defying the Wizard’s orders and embracing life as a fugitive. Jeff Goldblum’s Wizard seeks to maintain his grip on Oz, while Prince Fiyero (played by Jonathan Bailey) embarks on a desperate quest to find Elphaba. The stakes are higher than ever as propaganda from both sides floods the land—posters label Elphaba a villain, while she fights back with defiant messages like “Our Wizard lies” scrawled across the sky.

Despite the tension, the heart of the story remains the deep and evolving bond between Elphaba and Glinda. The trailer offers glimpses of emotional reunions, intense confrontations, and a shocking wedding between Glinda and Fiyero. Fans also get a tantalizing tease of Fiyero’s potential rebellion against the Wizard to aid Elphaba and a thrilling scene of an animal-led revolt shaking the foundations of Oz. In a nod to The Wizard of Oz, Elphaba delivers an ominous line: “I’m off to see the Wizard.”

A Deeper Dive into Glinda and Elphaba’s Journeys

Grande shared that Glinda will face a personal reckoning, looking into her own reflection to truly understand what it means to be “Glinda the Good.” Meanwhile, Erivo emphasized that Elphaba, now in exile, must learn to harness her powers for the greater good. Producer Marc Platt reassured fans that the sequel will bring “more complexity and more profundity” to both characters, delving deeper into their struggles, ambitions, and transformations.

Bridging the Gap Between Wicked and The Wizard of Oz

Director Jon M. Chu revealed that the sequel won’t just be a continuation—it will also provide a seamless link to the beloved classic, The Wizard of Oz. He hinted that Wicked: For Good will take audiences beyond the moment when Dorothy first lands in Oz, offering fresh perspectives on the iconic tale. The trailer even teases the arrival of Dorothy and her companions on the yellow brick road, alongside the Wizard’s chilling command to “bring me Elphaba’s broomstick.”

With Wicked: For Good promising even more enchantment, drama, and spectacle, fans are eagerly counting down the days until they can return to Oz. The magic is far from over.