Wicked: For Good gets a promising update from Stephen Schwartz. Schwartz is known for his work as the composer and lyricist for the original 2003 Broadway musical Wicked. Schwartz also served as the co-composer for the 2024 film adaptation of Wicked, which he worked on with John Powell. Now, director Jon M. Chu and the rest of the Wicked team are preparing for the release of the sequel Wicked: For Good later this year. Chronicling the second act of the acclaimed Broadway musical, the film is set for release on November 21.
Per Variety, Schwartz has provided an update for Wicked: For Good. The composer admits that there is “a lot of work to do” on the sequel, but notes that it is “exciting.” He expresses that the first movie is “a lot of live up to” but is still enthusiastic about the sequel. Check out the full quote from Schwartz below:
We are trying to keep our heads down and focus because there’s a lot of work to do, but it is exciting, and it’s both encouraging that the first film was so well received and intimidating. We have a lot to live up to. I can’t deny feeling some pressure because of that, but that’s what they call a good problem to have.
What This Means For Wicked: For Good
Good Reviews & A Strong Box Office Put The Pressure On
Wicked received positive reviews at the time of its release, getting an 87% Tomatometer and a 95% Popcornmeter. ScreenRant‘s Rachel Labonte sang the movie’s praises, giving the film 9 out of 10 stars and saying that “Wicked is a near perfect adaptation of the musical.” The adaptation also did well during awards season, getting 10 Oscar nominations and winning 2 (for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design). This is the kind of hype Schwartz refers to when he talks about there being a lot of work still to come.
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Another stressor Wicked faces is the overwhelming pressure to perform at the box office. The first movie was a smashing success, making $753.9 million worldwide. This made the movie the no. 5 highest-grossing film of the year, beating out franchise films like Dune: Part Two and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. The positive response to the first movie could drive ticket sales for the second film, but it also applies more urgency to Wicked: For Good‘s ticket sales.
Our Take On The Wicked: For Good Progress
The Second Act Has Some Great Songs
Despite the pressure he may feel, the Wicked franchise is in good hands when working with Schwartz and Powell. The former is a Broadway legend, and the latter is a highly respected two-time Oscar nominee known for the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. Adapting Wicked: For Good is challenging in that the first act boasts the most well-known tunes, such as “Defying Gravity” and “Popular,” but with strong numbers like “For Good” in act two, Schwartz and his team will still have interesting material to work with.
Source: Variety