Final Wicked: For Good trailer shows Elphaba-Glinda showdown, Dorothy arrives in Oz ahead of November release

Wicked: For Good released its final trailer on Wednesday, setting up a dramatic confrontation between Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, as the Oz saga moves toward its second installment. The clip confirms that Elphaba lives in exile while continuing her fight for freedom, even as the silenced animals of Oz work to expose the truth about The Wizard, portrayed by Jeff Goldblum. A cloud-lit message appears across the sky, signaling that the Wizard may not be who he seems. Ahead of the film's November 21 release, the trailer also signals the high-stakes stakes for Glinda, who has become a symbol of goodness in Oz and now presides over a palace in the Emerald City.

The teaser hints at a rift between the two heroines, with Glinda and Elphaba sharing a tense moment as Grande’s Glinda confronts her fellow witch. In the background, posters around Oz warn of Elphaba, and a scene shows a villager carrying a bucket labeled with a call to action against the witch. The trailer follows the people of Oz as they hunt for Elphaba, and it suggests that the Wicked Witch’s broom may figure into the broader plot, with The Wizard and his cohorts seeking proof of her demise by retrieving the broom. In addition to the visual drama, Wicked: For Good offers a glimpse of new music, including a track associated with Erivo’s character and a new performance from Grande. The film’s creative team notes that the second installment will deepen the emotional journey begun in Part 1, adding melody and weight to the evolving relationship between the two witches.

A key element of the trailer centers on the evolving dynamics between Glinda and Elphaba. Glinda has grown into the symbol of goodness in Oz, living in a dazzling palace within the Emerald City, while Elphaba remains a hunted figure. Yet the end of the teaser hints at reconciliation, as Glinda’s tearful line expresses the possibility of collaboration and shared purpose. The clip also marks Dorothy’s newly shown arrival in Oz, alongside the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow, as they become entangled in the Wizard’s plan to neutralize Elphaba by claiming she is dead. The trailer’s mood shifts between danger, wonder and a dawning sense of partnership between the two heroines.

The soundtrack components of the trailer are a notable draw for fans. A sample of new music appears, including a track tied to Erivo’s Elphaba and a piece performed by Grande for her Glinda, underscoring the musical backbone of the film and its predecessor. The film’s marketing emphasizes the consequences that follow difficult choices, a theme echoed by director Jon M. Chu, who returns to helm the project. He stresses that Part 2 moves beyond the choices faced in Part 1 to explore the repercussions and moral complexity that arise when power and responsibility collide, while preserving moments of warmth, humor and resilience that defined the first film.

Fans reacted with enthusiasm to the trailer, praising its mood shift and the sense of maturation between the characters. One viewer described the vibe as different and more evolved, while another celebrated the potential for iconic moments in the big-screen adaptation. A third commenter expressed anticipation for the arrival of the songs, and a fourth said the trailer left them eager for November to arrive. The social response mirrors the enthusiasm surrounding the film’s previous success and the ongoing anticipation for a climactic second act.

The first Wicked movie, released in theaters in the late 2010s, proved a box-office standout, earning roughly $747.2 million worldwide on a production budget of about $150 million. It received critical praise and secured ten Academy Award nominations, winning two. In a standout moment at the Oscars, Grande performed Somewhere Over the Rainbow from the original 1939 classic, followed by a duet of Defying Gravity with Erivo, underscoring the musical core that has driven the franchise’s appeal in both live theater and cinema.

Director Chu has described Part 2 as a continuation that leans into a more mature, nuanced exploration of the characters’ choices and their consequences. He notes that while light moments remain, the film introduces deeper soul-searching as Glinda and Elphaba navigate shifting loyalties, personal responsibility and the impact of their actions on Oz. The trailer’s tone reflects that balance: moments of wonder and humor, framed by a sense of gravity that comes with the unfolding saga. The second installment stores its payoff in the evolving friendship between the two witches, culminating in a collaboration that could redefine what audiences expect from the Wicked universe.

With its late-November release, Wicked: For Good aims to deliver a conclusive chapter that leverages strong performances from Grande and Erivo, a return by Chu at the helm, and the expansive, fantasy-rich world that has captivated audiences since the original adaptation began. As Oz braces for what promises to be a transformative conclusion, fans can expect a film that pairs musical storytelling with high-stakes drama, anchored by the familiar faces of Glinda and Elphaba and driven forward by the promise of history-making moments on the big screen.