“Are people born wicked?” asks Ariana Grande’s Glinda in a new trailer for Universal’s Wicked released on Wednesday. “Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?”
Certainly, she’ll have an answer when the studio’s first of two films based on the Tony-winning Broadway musical debuts in theaters on November 27.
Recently getting an extended preview at the NBCUniversal Upfront, Wicked sees Cynthia Erivo take on the iconic role of Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power. Gilded by privilege and ambition, Grande’s Glinda is a popular young woman who has yet to discover her true heart. The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths.
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Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
First introduced on Broadway in 2003, Wicked is based on Gregory Maguire’s bestselling novel of the same name — itself based on L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which was adapted into MGM’s classic 1939 film. Serving as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, the new franchise’s pair of films are both directed by Jon M. Chu, with the latter set to debut on November 26, 2025.
This new take on Wicked also stars Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle and Peter Dinklage. Script was written by the stage show’s book writer Winne Holzman and composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz. Marc Platt is producing through his Universal-based Marc Platt Productions, alongside David Stone, with Senior Executive Vice President of Production Erik Baiers and Vice President of Production Development Lexi Barta overseeing the project on behalf of the studio. David Nicksay, Schwartz and Jared LeBoff are the exec producers.
Check out the new trailer for Wicked above.