Wicked: For Good Trailer Breakdown | Gelphie, Musical Changes, & Wizard of Oz Nods
Wicked For Good Trailer Breakdown
Welcome to MsMojo, and today were breaking down our return trip to Oz with the first trailer for Wicked: For Good. Were discussing plot points from the stage show and The Wizard of Oz, so if you havent seen either (especially in their entirety), be gone before somebody drops some spoilers on you!
Remember Part 1?
Since theres nearly a year between Part One and For Good, it makes sense that the new trailer is starting to connect a few dots, especially things we glimpsed in the first movie or just in the trailers so far.
Take that crack in Glindas window right at the start of the trailer. It tips her off that Elphabas nearby. But how would she know its her? Remember, weve seen that crack before, and its pretty much identical.
We also get a glimpse of the Munchkins putting up the Beware the Wicked Witch poster we saw during No One Mourns the Wicked, followed by Glinda looking like shes about to address the crowd after Elphabasmelting. If youve seen the stage show, youll know this brings us to our full circle moment.
Then theres that shot of Elphabas hand on the yellow bricks, which has been teased before! Now we know how the famous brick road got its color. So we imagine this is when Elphaba first returns to the Emerald City or perhaps even Munchkinland and sees that at least the Wizard was true to his word about something.
We already know Elphaba and Glinda end up going their separate ways, and while were not spoiling how or why, their friendship definitely hits a bump in Part Two. So the moment where we see Elphaba pick up the brochure Glinda gave her before she left for the Emerald City stings just a bit. Its a reminder that no matter what happens, theyll always have a handprint on the others heart. And the fact that its followed by a clip of For Good makes it hit even harder, but more on that later.
Oh! And that poppy field scene with Elphaba and Galinda! Remember, weve seen it before. Turns out its part of a longer deleted scene. We still dont know exactly where it fits, but with two new songs written for the film, its a safe bet its tied to one of them.
Storyline & Plot Points
It will be nearly impossible to keep this part completely spoiler-free, so if youre not familiar with Act Two of Wicked, you may want to skip ahead
One thing Part One did brilliantly was fleshing out some of the stage shows most memorable beats, and it looks like were getting more of that in For Good, especially in those new shots of Elphaba in the forest. While it might be part of No Good Deed, it also seems like a continuation of what we saw back in her Shiz days. Except now, instead of learning magic in the classroom, shes mastering the Grimmerie in exile.
We also know that Elphabas primary goal was to free the Animals. Indeed, we see her surrounded by flying monkeys, who, as anyone whos seen the show knows, was her first real success in standing up to the Wizard. Another shot shows a crowd of Animals charging out of the palace, possibly just released from captivity. Depending on where this falls in the story, theres a chance Glinda is the one who makes it happen as a final tribute to her friend. Or, and hear us out, are those the same pink flowers from Glinda and Fiyeros wedding? Perhaps Elphaba does succeed in freeing some Animals, and their stampede through the palace is what stops anyone from saying I do.
The Elphaba and Glinda friendship still feels deliberately underplayed in this trailer. There are brief glimpses, but theyre keeping most of that dynamic close to the chest for now. What does get more screen time is the love triangle between Elphaba, Glinda, and Fiyero. That image of Glinda in a wedding dress from the Part One teaser is back and still raises as many questions now as it did back then. Theres a sense that the film might be expanding on this moment in a way that complicates what we thought we knew. Fiyeros body language at the altar says a lot. Is this actually happening, or is it a fantasy sequence? Wed say the footage in the trailer strongly supports our earlier theory bu we guess well have to wait and see.
Theres also that intense scene where Fiyero, now fully part of the Wizards guard, confronts Elphaba with a gun. Then he turns it, and we see who he points it at next. Its a huge reveal for them to include here, especially given how much the story hinges on that particular shift. Clearly, theyre trusting the audience to either already know or to be intrigued enough not to mind.
The For Good scene makes a brief but emotional appearance, too, which is fitting since the film takes its title from that song. Also, the trailer shows how everything circles back to where the story began.
One notable absence here is Nessarose and Boq (well, the latter is debatable). Their storyline comes to a head in The Wicked Witch of the East, which was famously left off the original Broadway cast recording because it gave away too much. The trailer seems to be following the same logic. Its possible theyll show up more later, just like they did with the last set of trailers.
Over the Rainbow
Act Two is where The Wizard of Oz and Wicked finally collide, and the trailer is already giving us glimpses of that. Weve already seen Dorothys silver shoes and her visit to the Wizard with her companions. This time, though, we get morefrom what looks like the start of her Yellow Brick Road journey out of Munchkinland to a proper look at at least one of her friends. The lions clearly a bit trembly (where have we seen that before?), but the real moment for fans is the Scarecrow, or at least what we can see of him. Just take a second to clock his outfit. It shows up more than once. Thats all were saying.
Of course, Dorothy travels to Oz via tornado, and here we actually see it take form, or should we say, conjured upby Madame Morrible. She did say weather was her specialty! Another familiar moment comes with Elphaba writing warnings in the sky. Its a brilliant nod to The Wizard of Oz and a reminder that when Elphaba has something to say, the skys the limitliterally.
But its not just The Wizard of Oz thats being honored here. Glindas bubble makes a grand return, and though its a quick shot, it looks like her reunion with Elphaba could be set in Kiamo Ko, which, as fans of the novel or show know, is Fiyeros family castle. We also get a brief glimpse of Glinda holding the Grimmerie, which we know Elphaba eventually gives to her in the emotional crux of the story.
Glindas dresses also deserve a moment. Paul Tazewells work continues to be stunning, but the costume choices may also hint at a slightly different timeline than what weve seen on stage.
Musical Moments
Okay, now lets put a little music in this movie musical. Not even 30 seconds in and were already hit with our first taste of No Good Deed, and its just enough to send a chill straight down our spine. Its one of two songs we hear in the trailer, but that doesnt mean the musical moments stop there. If youve watched this trailer on loop like some of us (hi), youve probably started matching visuals to the Act Two numbers we know by heart. Theres a shot of Fiyero leading the guards that feels very Thank Goodness adjacent. No Good Deed makes another appearance, but the real surprise is that shot of Elphaba, Glinda, and the Wizard dancing together in the palace. In the stage show, Elphaba only comes out after the Wizard clears the room ahead of Wonderful, so if this really is that scene, and Glindas involved now, were certainly intrigued.
We also see the mob coming for Elphaba, which looks like March of the Witch Huntersbut the emotional core of the trailer is, of course, For Good. Theyve given us just enough of it to completely wreck us. And if this little sliver already has us clutching our emerald-green hearts, imagine what the full scene is going to do in the theater. Well be crying buckets, like enough to melt a whole coven of witches!
As fans know, the film introduces two brand-new songsone for each leading lady. According to Vanity Fair, the trailers opening moment is pulled from Elphabas new number, co-written by Cynthia Erivo and described as a song that speaks to the heart of who Elphaba is. Glindas new solo is called Girl in the Bubble, which might be where the poppy field scene lands. Well find out soon enough. If anyone knows of a shortcut down the Yellow Brick Road that gets us to November faster, were all ears!
What has you most excited for Wicked: For Good and what questions has this trailer raised? Let us know in the comments