One specific aspect of ending of Wicked, it will be exciting to return to the world of Oz in the highly anticipated sequel.
Wicked's cliffhanger ending was not surprising, as the sequel was announced prior to the film's release. Since the Broadway musical it is based on is split into two acts, it made sense to split Wicked's story into two movies. After all, it would have been too hard to condense the emotional journey of Elphaba and Glinda into just one movie. While the sequel was planned ahead of time and the films were shot back-to-back, Wicked 2's title was changed after the release of the first film. Because of this, the title card in the first Wicked movie is awkward.
Wicked's Title Card Is For Wicked: Part 1, Which Made Sense At The Time
The Sequel Was Originally Titled Wicked: Part 2
After the song "No One Mourns the Wicked," the title card for Wicked shows up on screen. When I first watched Wicked in November 2024, when the movie was released, I didn't think twice when I read "Wicked: Part 1" on the screen. After all, at that point in time, the title of the sequel was Wicked: Part 2. Furthermore, I didn't question the studio's decision to refer to both movies as "Part 1" and "Part 2" at all, as a lot of movie series do this.
Wicked 2 Will Have One Major Difference From The First Movie That Could Hurt The Sequel
Elphaba and Glinda being split up right at the end of Wicked is concerning for the success and impact of the sequel, Wicked: For Good.
I actually think it was smart to clearly state that Wicked is just the first part of a bigger story. If it didn't do this and audience didn't know that the sequel had already been shot, then they may have been thrown off by Wicked's cliffhanger ending. This especially could have been the case since a lot of the conflicts set up in Wicked are not resolved by the end of the film. Therefore, the title card reading "Wicked: Part 1" likely avoided some people being disappointed by the movie's ending and led to more positive reviews.
Wicked: For Good's Title Change Makes Wicked's Part 1 Subtitle A Bit Awkward
Wicked 2 Changed Its Title In December 2024
For the aforementioned reasons, I initially believed it was very smart to clearly establish that Wicked is just part one of a story that will continue in the sequel. However, my opinion on Wicked's title card changed when Wicked 2 received a new title. In December 2024, less than a month after the release of Wicked, it was revealed that the sequel would be called Wicked: For Good. While this is a great title and references an amazing song from the Broadway musical, it creates a problem with the first movie's title card.
Since the movie has already been released in theaters, on digital, and on streaming, it's unlikely that Wicked's title card will change.
Because of the title change, Wicked and its sequel can no longer be referred to as "Part 1" and "Part 2." Now, it is technically correct to refer to the two films as "Part 1" and "For Good." The new subtitle for Wicked 2 is undeniably more creative, but it no longer flows well with the first film. Since the sequel's title has changed, I wish the title card for the first movie would just read "Wicked." However, since the movie has already been released in theaters, on digital, and on streaming, it's unlikely that Wicked's title card will change.
Why Wicked 2 Changed Its Title To Wicked: For Good
Wicked 2's New Title Refers To A Song In The Sequel
At the beginning of the first Wicked movie, Elphaba and Glinda can't stand each other. However, once they spend more time together, they grow to be best friends. This prompts Elphaba to invite Glinda along when she is invited to Emerald City to meet the Wizard. However, the ending of the first film tests their friendship when they discover that the Wizard and Madame Morrible are behind the conspiracy against the animals in the world of Oz. While Elphaba flies away from Emerald City, Glinda stays behind.
After Wicked, I'm Most Excited To See This Character's Arc In Wicked 2
Of all the characters returning in Wicked 2, it's this character's arc that will be the most exciting to watch, as he is stuck between the two leads.
Since the story of Wicked revolves around the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda, it is fitting that the title of the second movie references an emotional duet that the two characters will sing together. "For Good" is the name of a song that Elphaba and Glinda will sing in Wicked 2, during which they reflect on how much they have changed each other. In the Broadway musical, the performance of this song is also the last time Elphaba and Glinda see each other on stage. This makes them singing "For Good" perhaps the most emotional moment of the entire musical.
If the sequel follows the musical, then Elphaba will fake her own death in Wicked: For Good and leave Oz with Fiyero. Before leaving, she gives Glinda the Grimmerie and tells her that she has to continue her cause. After giving her the Grimmerie, Elphaba and Glinda sing "For Good" together, emotionally reflecting on their friendship and revealing how much they mean to one another. If story follows the play, then the performance of this song will probably be the last time Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande's versions of the characters see each other.
Wicked's Part 1 Title Card Makes Less Sense Based On Wicked 2's Script
The Title Wicked: For Good Was Written On The Script Of The Sequel
Because of the emotional meaning behind the new title for Wicked 2, I am definitely glad that it was changed. However, I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me that Wicked's title card will always read "Part 1." Comments from director Jon M. Chu explaining the sequel's title change make it even more surprising that Wicked's title card was never changed before the film was released in theaters. Talking about Wicked 2's title change, Chu said:
Who wants a movie called Wicked: Part Two? On the script, it always said, "For Good," and so it was just a point of like, "Do we really want to call this Part Two?" And nobody wants that.
Based on these comments, it seems like Chu wanted to change the title of Wicked 2 before the release of the first movie. Since "For Good" was always written in the script for Wicked 2, it's surprising that he and the studio didn't decide to change the first movie's title card before it was released in theaters. Doing this would have avoided this awkward element of the first Wicked movie, but now the film's title card will always be distracting.
Wicked
- Release Date
- November 22, 2024
- Runtime
- 160 Minutes
- Director
- Jon M. Chu
Cast
Cynthia ErivoElphaba Thropp
Glinda Upland
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Gregory Maguire, Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox, L. Frank Baum
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