A Wicked twist in the tale
The second and final film instalment of the hit musical Wicked is almost here, with millions of fans expected to head to the cinema in the coming weeks to see the highly-anticipated Wicked: For Good. A twist in the tale of the iconic 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, Wicked takes a closer look at the origin story of two famous characters – the Wicked Witch of the West, known as Elphaba and Glinda the Good, formerly known as Galinda.
One of the most successful musicals to come out of Broadway, the film adaptation has reached new audiences and garnered awards across the globe in numerous categories. But if you had to choose your favourite out of the two lead roles, which witch would be yours?
Check out our quiz below to find out if you’re more Elphaba or more Glinda. Here, BBC Bitesize also takes a closer look at the phenomenon that is Wicked, from its history to its themes, star-studded cast and more.
What is Wicked?
A loved musical based on Gregory Maguire's retelling of The Wizard of Oz, Wicked first came to Broadway in 2003. The original Broadway cast featured Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda and Idina Menzel – the voice of Elsa in Frozen - as Elphaba.
Instead of focusing on the story of Dorothy and her journey through the magical land of Oz, Wicked tells the story from the perspective of the two lead characters who meet while studying at Shiz University. Elphaba was born with green skin and has spent her whole life struggling to fit in while Glinda is the most popular girl in school.
They start their journey as roommates who can’t stand one another but soon forge a strong friendship despite their differences. However, in Wicked, the wizard turns out not to be as good as people first thought - he takes away the rights of the animals and separates them from the rest of Oz so that they forget how to speak.
Elphaba stands up to him while Glinda doesn’t, seeing Elphaba be called The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda take on the title of the good witch. The two-part movie adaptation follows their journey, with music and lyrics from Stephen Schwartz.
What are the themes in Wicked?
Wicked is more than just a musical or film – its story has a spellbinding message to embrace your uniqueness and challenge conformity. Throughout Wicked, there are so many different themes to explore, from friendship to good vs evil, identity, acceptance, social injustice and more.
At the heart of the story is the complex relationship between Elphaba and Glinda, which evolves from rivalry and misunderstandings to a strong and loving friendship. Along the way, the importance of supporting one another is evident as they both face challenges and societal pressures on a journey of self-acceptance.
Wicked also challenges the themes of good and evil, which everyone interprets differently, and prompts the audiences to look beyond labels and appearances. Throughout the story, Elphaba is also outcast due to her green skin, and we see discrimination and prejudice against her, as well as the animals who are being oppressed.
Are you Elphaba or Glinda?
When is the release date for Wicked for Good?
In 2024, the first part of the big screen adaptation of the popular stage musical Wicked hit UK cinemas on 22 November. But now, the sequel, Wicked: For Good is being released on 21 November 2025 – a year on from the Box Office success of the first film.
Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film is rated PG (parental guidance is advised) and has a run time of two hours and 17 minutes. Wicked: For Good continues the story from the first film and sees cast members return to reprise their roles.
Who are the stars of Wicked?
The film adaptation of the famous musical Wicked boasts an all-star cast, who bring the loved stage characters to the big screen. In the lead roles we see Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp – the Wicked Witch of the West and Ariana Grande as Galinda Upland – the Good Witch.
Playing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh is Madame Morrible, Jonathan Bailey is Fiyero Tigelaar, Ethan Slater is Boq Woodsman and Marissa Bode plays Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose Thropp. In Wicked, Bowen Yang and Bronwen James take on the roles of Pfannee and ShenShen and Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage is the voice of Doctor Dillamond.