Wicked Part 2 Set to Thrill Fans Sooner with Impressive Release Date Shift!
Wicked, the highly anticipated musical, is finally making its way to the big screen in not one, but two captivating films Get ready for an epic journey as the beloved story comes to life like never before!
The highly anticipated sequel, Wicked Part 2, has surprised fans with a new release date that brings its debut only a year after the release of Part 1. This two-part musical fantasy film is based on the immensely successful 2003 musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, which delves into the backstory of The Wizard of Oz's Wicked Witch of the West. Leading the cast is Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp, the young Wicked Witch, alongside Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, and Michelle Yeoh.
According to Deadline, Part 2 will now hit theaters on November 26, 2025, moving up almost a month from its originally planned Christmas release. This means that both parts of director Chu's musical adaptation will be released within a year of each other, as Wicked Part 1 is currently scheduled to premiere on November 27, 2024.
Wicked's Journey To Cinema Screens Has Been A Long Time Coming
With the original stage show maintaining its popularity even after 20 years since its debut, there is a great deal of excitement surrounding the highly anticipated Wicked Parts 1 and 2. Universal's efforts to bring the beloved musical to the big screen started in 2012, with producer Marc Platt, who had previously been involved in the original show, leading the way. However, the film adaptation of Wicked faced numerous challenges during its pre-production phase, resulting in significant delays. In 2020, original director Stephen Daldry decided to step away from the project, which led to Jon M. Chu taking over the directorial responsibilities in 2021.
With Chu on board, the production finally gained momentum, and in November of that year, the talented performers Erivo and Grande were announced as part of the cast for Wicked. Originally intended to be a single film, it was later revealed in April 2022 that Wicked would be released in two parts, allowing for the inclusion of new elements, such as a brand-new song written by Schwartz.
The fact that Universal has rescheduled the release date for Wicked Part 2 demonstrates their confidence in director Chu's ability to captivate audiences. Despite the long intermission, many skeptical individuals may now find reassurance in the shortened wait time between the two film adaptations of the beloved musical.
