LOS ANGELES (AP) — The highly anticipated first teaser for “Wicked: For Good” has been released, showcasing significant transformations in the characters since their introduction in Part 1.
Released Tuesday, June 3, just a day before the full trailer premiere, the teaser begins with Cynthia Erivo staring intensely at the camera. Her character, Elphaba, is now depicted in a darker black dress, highlighting her complete transformation into the Wicked Witch of the West. In contrast, Ariana Grande, appearing last in the teaser, has traded her Shiz University uniform and pink bubble dress from the initial “Wicked” film for a multi-colored ballgown and tiara, marking her character Glinda’s evolution as Oz’s beloved princess.
“I have been changed,” Erivo sings in the teaser, excerpting the poignant “For Good” duet from the “Wicked” Broadway musical.
Returning cast members Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh feature in the teaser, appearing more menacing after Part 1 revealed their characters’ — The Wizard of Oz and Madam Morrible, respectively — malicious intentions. Jonathan Bailey is seen as Fiyero in his Emerald City uniform, while Ethan Slater appears as the munchkin Boq in a gray ensemble.
“For Good” is scheduled to hit theaters this November, a year after the first installment of Jon M. Chu’s live-action musical duology debuted. The sequel promises a darker narrative as Elphaba’s magic begins to control her, straining her relationships with Glinda, Fiyero, and Marissa Bode’s Nessa Rose.
“She’s able to access her rage more,” Erivo told Billboard Pride editor Stephen Daw regarding Elphaba’s evolution in her June cover story. “The scent I wore changed. The makeup changed. Little shifts that bring you to a more mature version of who Elphaba becomes. And she is delicious in this next one.”
As stated in the teaser, which concludes with the text “Trailer tomorrow,” the full preview of “For Good” is set to premiere in theaters Wednesday, June 4. This coincides with the one-night-only return of the first “Wicked” film to theaters in the United States and Canada. By the end of May, “Wicked” had grossed $755.9 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film adaptation of a Broadway musical.