Universal is Busy Figuring Out ‘Wicked’ Spin-Offs

(L to R) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Jonathan Bailey is Fiyero in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.

Preview:

Universal wants to keep going to the ‘Wicked’ well.
The company is looking at other stories to tell within the land of Oz.
No details have been provided yet.

As Universal says “thank goodness” for the success of 2024’s ‘Wicked’ and this year’s follow-up, ‘Wicked: For Good,’ the company already has one eye on the future of the franchise. Even if it all remains clouded in secrecy for now.

Universal Studios’ chief marketing officer Michael Moses said this to Vulture about the potential for more stories set in the land of Oz:

“Because of ‘Wicked’s’ success but also the fanship, we have almost a responsibility to figure out how we can continue in this universe. Have we figured it out yet? No. But there are things underway.”

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So, yes… we can expect more trips to the land of Oz, even if the likes of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) seem unlikely to show up in anything more than cameos.

Who else has been talking about more ‘Wicked’ projects?

Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.

It’s not just the studio that has been hinting at future ‘Wicked’ ideas in the works.

Stephen Schwartz, the award-winning composer (who pushed to make the story into a stage show years ago and crafted all the songs, including the new entries in ‘For Good’) told the Ankler newsletter that he and Winnie Holzman –– who wrote the book for the musical and co-wrote the screenplay for both movies –– have been conjuring something up themselves.

Here’s what Schwartz said:

“I think the Glinda and Elphaba story feels complete — but there are other aspects that could be explored. Gregory Maguire, the original ‘Wicked’ novelist, has several books, for example. But there’s another idea that Winnie and I are discussing: not a sequel, but an adjunct. Let me put it that way.”

What shape could a ‘Wicked’ spin-off take?

Jeff Goldblum is The Wizard of Oz in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.

While the story of the ‘Wicked’ movies themselves does indeed feel like it has been told, there is no shortage of other material to draw from.

As Schwartz notes, Maguire has written eight sequel novels. His most recent book was published this year and was an Elphaba prequel story titled “Elphie: A Wicked Childhood.” A Glinda prequel is scheduled for 2026.

Universal may well look to television also, with the potential for stories set on the small screen –– and let’s not forget that the company has its theme parks, where there may well be the chance for guests to interact with Ozians to a greater degree now that the movies are such a hit.