With just a few months to go for the release of Wicked: For Good, actor Michelle Yeoh, who plays Madame Morrible, has opened up on why the films were split into two. "We shot Wicked and Wicked: For Good at the same time," the actor said to People. Splitting the stage show into two movies, she said, "is very much like the musical, you know? You have part one, intermission, part two."
Although the Oscar winner added, "I think there was talk: 'Maybe we should just [squish] it together.' " But ultimately, the team decided to spread the story out. "There's so many nuances." Yeoh said, "After you saw Wicked One, you felt, 'I saw a complete film -- but I want to know more about what's gonna happen next'."
A two-part film, Wicked is helmed by Jon M Chu. Adapted from Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the films tell the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West (played by Cynthia Erivo) and her former friendship with the Good Witch (Ariana Grande), Glinda and how their lives are altered once they meet the great and powerful Wizard of Oz. The musical adaptation of the novel, adapted by Stephen Schwartz and starring Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, debuted on Broadway in 2003.
The scripts for the two-part Wicked film were written by Winnie Holzman, the original Broadway musical book author, and Dana Fox, the co-scribe of Cruella. The films are produced by Marc Platt.
Both Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have received Golden Globe nominations for their performances in Wicked: Part One. The two actors will be seen reprising their roles in Wicked: For Good along with Jonathan Bailey, Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, and Jeff Goldblum, among others.
Wicked: For Good is scheduled to hit theatres on November 21, 2025.
Apart from Wicked: For Good, Michelle Yeoh is also awaiting the release of the English-language version of Ne Zha 2, in which she voices Lady Yin, will be in US theatres on August 22. She is also a part of Avatar 4.
