Wicked: Part Two – UK release date, cast and plot for musical's second act

"As we prepared this production over the last year, it became increasingly clear that it would be impossible to wrestle the story of Wicked into a single film without doing some real damage to it," he explained.

He continued: "As we tried to cut songs or trim characters, those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material that has entertained us all for so many years.

"So we decided to give ourselves a bigger canvas and make not just one Wicked movie, but TWO!!!! With more space, we can tell the story of Wicked as it was meant to be told while bringing even more depth and surprise to the journeys of these beloved characters.

For the musical fans amongst us, Part One covers off the first act of the stage show, with nods to the original material from the novel - so there is plenty more to get excited for!

But just how long will fans have to wait for the second instalment? And will any new stars be joining Erivo and Ariana Grande in the second part? Read on for everything we know so far.

Wicked: Part Two release date

Wicked: Part Two has been scheduled for released on Friday 21st November 2025 – so almost exactly a year after the first film's launch in cinemas.

Of course, that's a lot longer to wait between two acts than the 15-minute intermission theatregoers are accustomed to, but it's still a shorter gap than there often is between two instalments in a franchise.

Given how enthusiastically people seem to have taken to Part One already, we're willing to bet that many fans will fit in a fair few viewings of the first film between now and then as they wait...

Wicked: Part Two plot – What happens in the second act?

If you've not seen the stage show or read Gregory Maguire's source novel and are thus unfamiliar with the events in the second half of the musical, you might not want to read too much on from here – but suffice to say that the second part follows the story after Elphaba has learned to fly and discovered the treachery going on in Oz.

On stage, the second act picks up with her already known as the Wicked Witch of the West due to her opposition to the Wizard's regime, while Glinda has gone the other way – now the lead spokesperson for the Wizard and known as Glinda the Good.

Meanwhile, the story also delves further into Fiyero, who is now looking for Elphaba but is led astray and ends up coming into conflict with Glinda.

Crucially, the second part depicts the events we know from The Wizard of Oz, albeit from a different perspective – focusing on what is happening behind the scenes during Dorothy's venture down the Yellow Brick Road, while also including some interesting reveals about other characters we know from the classic film.

Given how faithful the first film was to act one, we're not expecting any major deviations, but of course we'll update this page accordingly if we hear any snippets to the contrary.

"The first tells how Elphaba becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and the second tells how her best friend, Glinda, becomes authentically good,” producer Marc Platt explained in the production notes (via NBC).

Wicked: Part Two cast – Will Dorothy be in the film?

The cast is almost certain to be exactly the same as it was for the first film – given that the two films were shot at the same time and that there are no character deaths in the first part, with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande once again leading the way.

Here's a reminder of the biggest names you can expect to see in the sequel:

• Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp
• Ariana Grande as Glinda Upland
• Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar
• Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible
• Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz
• Ethan Slater as Boq Woodsman
• Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp
• Peter Dinklage as the voice of Doctor Dillamond
• Bowen Yang as Pfannee of Phan Hall
• Bronwyn James as ShenShen

In the musical, there are no new additions in the second act, save for a brief appearance by iconic Wizard of Oz character Dorothy, who can be heard crying off-stage but is not normally played by an actor on stage.

That said, there are rumours that both Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion could have expanded roles in the film – although this is unconfirmed at this stage, and there have been no reports as to who might be playing them.

Given Judy Garland's performance in the 1939 film is one of the most beloved screen performances of all time, if someone does end up playing her they'll have very big shoes – or ruby slippers – to fill.

We'll keep this page updated as and when we hear any more concrete news.

Will there be new music in Wicked: Part Two?

While the movie currently covers off all the songs from the first act of the musical, it has been confirmed that there will be a couple of additions in Part Two.

During an interview with The Messenger in 2023, composer Stephen Schwartz said: "The storytelling required it, and therefore they were created—the intention was that they were organic and not imposed on the movie."

He added: "There's new stuff that I think the fans will enjoy. Our hope and intention is that the people to whom the story and the show are important will not in any way be disappointed, but will be thrilled by what they will see."

Is there a Wicked: Part Two trailer?

There's no trailer for Part Two just yet – but we'll be keeping a lookout and will post it here as soon as it drops.

In the meantime, why don't you enjoy the trailer for Part One again?

Wicked: Part One is now showing in UK cinemas and Part Two is scheduled for release on 21st November 2025.

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