The highly anticipated film adaptation Wicked: For Good brings numerous significant changes from the beloved Broadway musical that will surprise and delight fans. Director Jon M. Chu and the creative team have expanded the story with new songs, character developments, and visual elements that deepen the narrative while maintaining the core magic of the original production.
New Songs and Musical Expansions
Two brand new songs grace the film adaptation, addressing long-standing gaps in the musical's composition. Elphaba's "No Place Like Home" serves as a direct nod to Dorothy's iconic line from The Wizard of Oz while clarifying that Elphaba never hated Oz, but was hated for who she was according to composer Stephen Schwartz and writer Winnie Holzman in their New York Times interview.
Glinda finally receives her long-awaited second-act number with "The Girl in the Bubble," a song Kristin Chenoweth had repeatedly requested during the 2003 stage development. Schwartz explained this number also pays homage to Billie Burke's entrance as Glinda in the original film.
The film creatively splits "Thank Goodness" into two separate numbers: "Every Day More Wicked" and "Thank Goodness / I Couldn't Be Happier." The former incorporates musical samples from previous songs like "The Wizard and I," "What Is This Feeling?" and "Popular" to catch audiences up on character developments since the first movie.
Character Backstories and Relationship Developments
Following the pattern established in Wicked: Part One, the sequel adds a childhood flashback for Galinda, showing her attempting magic at a birthday party and failing, while a rainbow appears outside - a clear reference to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
The relationship between Elphaba and Glinda receives deeper exploration through a new scene where Elphaba visits Glinda before her wedding to Fiyero, something not included in the stage version. This scene features the line "We can't all come and go by bubble," which originally appeared during their physical fight in the musical.
Nessarose's character motivation undergoes significant changes. Instead of wanting to walk again, her desire becomes more emotional - longing to feel the way she did when Boq danced with her at the Ozdust Ballroom. This alteration transforms her solo "The Wicked Witch of the East" with new lyrics reflecting this emotional yearning.
Expanded Visual Storytelling and Wizard of Oz Connections
The film shows rather than tells what Elphaba has been doing to disrupt The Wizard's plans, including freeing animals forced to build the Yellow Brick Road. This visual storytelling advantage allows audiences to witness events only alluded to in the stage production.
Dorothy's presence increases substantially with multiple appearances throughout the film. We see her and Toto beginning their journey on the Yellow Brick Road after receiving instructions from Glinda, her participation in "March of the Witch Hunters," and bidding farewell to the Wizard. However, the adaptation maintains the stage version's approach of only showing her shadow during the pivotal water-throwing scene.
The "Wonderful" number expands significantly with Glinda joining The Wizard and Elphaba, unlike the Broadway version where she doesn't appear. New lyrics reference "Defying Gravity" and include a "Dancing Through Life" callback where the two friends recreate their dance from the Ozdust Ballroom.
Notable Alterations and Additions
The Cowardly Lion receives a speaking role during "No Place Like Home," explaining his grudge against Elphaba, unlike the stage version where he only appears as a tail in Act Two.
Dulcibear, Elphaba's beloved nanny from Gregory Maguire's novel who never appeared in the stage musical, gets a moment with Elphaba before her escape from Oz.
In "No Good Deed," only Glinda shouts Fiyero's name at the beginning instead of both characters, and Elphaba experiences a flashback to her time at Shiz with Fiyero, a new addition for the film.
The film's ending expands substantially beyond the stage version. While the musical concludes with Fiyero and Elphaba walking away together, the movie shows them entering a desert-like scene with Elphaba looking back toward Oz and Glinda one final time. The final frame features a flashback of the two friends sitting in a field, recreating the musical's iconic poster.
Glinda's arc concludes with her reinstating animals as citizens of Oz, becoming the realm's leader, and attempting to open the Grimmerie. Director Jon M. Chu noted this ending allows multiple interpretations about whether Glinda has become a true witch or if Elphaba opens the book for her.
