Universal has shared a new full-length trailer for Wicked, an upcoming feature film adaption of Stephen Schwartz’s award-winning Broadway musical. Directed by Jon M. Chu of Crazy Rich Asians, the film will be released in two parts. The first installment comes as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, with Glinda, the Good Witch of the West (played by Ariana Grande) narrating the untold story between her and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo).
The trailer opens with Glinda announcing the death of the Wicked Witch of the West to the people of Oz, a premise that appears to pick up right where The Wizard of Oz ended. Through a series of flashbacks, she begins to retell the events that happened before the renowned tale. Spanning two and half minutes, the audience is offered an ear to the musical’s iconic anthem, “Defying Gravity” now performed by Grande and Erivo in an epically cinematic rendition.
The first part film of Wicked is set to premiere in theaters this holiday season, starting on November 22. The second installment of the film is scheduled to release in the following year, on November 26, 2025.
