Wicked: For Good Trailer Review: First Reactions Spellbind Fans with Darker, Emotional Sequel

The official trailer for Wicked: For Good, released by Universal Pictures, has taken the internet by storm, leaving fans and critics buzzing with excitement. In this Wicked: For Good Trailer Review, we dive into the first reactions, highlighting the darker tone, stunning visuals, and emotional depth that promise to make this sequel a cinematic masterpiece.

Directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, the trailer offers a tantalizing glimpse into the final chapter of the witches of Oz. Here’s what people are saying and why this trailer has everyone enchanted!

What Did Fans Notice in the Wicked: For Good Trailer?

Social media erupted after Universal Pictures dropped the trailer on June 4, 2025, during a special one-day theatrical re-release of Wicked. Fans were quick to note the darker, more intense tone, with Glinda (Ariana Grande) in a white dress emerging from the Emerald City and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) dramatically landing on the Yellow Brick Road.

X posts highlighted key moments, such as Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) searching for Elphaba and a wedding scene between Glinda and Fiyero, hinting at escalating tensions. The final shot of Elphaba flying with her iconic hat and broom, chased by monkeys, left viewers in awe, with many calling it “visually spectacular” and a “massive step up” from the first film.

How Are Critics Reacting to the Trailer’s Tone and Style?

Early reactions praise the trailer for its shift to a darker, more mature narrative. One X user noted that Wicked: For Good “appears to expand themes of propaganda and politics in Oz,” blending them with the consequences of Glinda and Elphaba’s choices. The stylistic improvement, with better backlighting and a richer visual palette, has also been a focal point, with comments like “the visuals look like a massive step up from the first film.”

Critics and fans alike are captivated by the soul-piercing vocals of Erivo and Grande, with one X post predicting the film “will shatter us” emotionally. The trailer’s inclusion of snippets tying into The Wizard of Oz storyline, like the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) sending Dorothy and her companions after Elphaba, adds intrigue and nostalgia.

What New Plot Points Were Revealed in the Trailer?

The trailer teases a fractured friendship between Elphaba and Glinda, with Elphaba in exile, fighting to expose the Wizard’s lies, while Glinda revels in her role as Oz’s symbol of goodness. A poignant moment shows Glinda pleading, “Elphaba, I know you’re out there,” before the two reunite in a tearful embrace, with Glinda joking, “And I’ve had so many friends.”

New scenes, like Glinda’s wedding and the Wizard’s command to “bring me the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West,” expand the second act of the Broadway musical, promising fresh twists. The mystery of Dorothy’s casting remains, with only her legs and back shown, fueling speculation about who will portray her.

Why Are Fans Excited for Wicked: For Good?

The emotional stakes have fans counting down to November 21, 2025. Bowen Yang, who plays Pfannee, told Access Hollywood that the film will “leave people totally arrasadas emocionalmente” (emotionally wrecked), a sentiment echoed across X. The trailer’s blend of friendship, betrayal, and high-stakes drama has viewers hyped, with one calling it “a tonally darker, stylistically improved film.”

Universal Pictures’ track record adds to the buzz: Wicked (2024) grossed over $755 million worldwide and won Oscars for Costume Design and Production Design. With returning stars like Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible and Marissa Bode as Nessarose, expectations are sky-high.

When and Where Can You See Wicked: For Good?

Wicked: For Good hits theaters on November 21, 2025, in formats like RealD 3D, IMAX, and Dolby Cinema. The trailer debuted at CinemaCon on April 2, 2025, and went public during the June 4 re-release of Wicked, delighting attendees with exclusive posters.

A musical TV special, The Wicked Event Special, featuring the cast, is set for NBC in November 2025 to build hype.

Some Closing Thoughts:

The overwhelming response to the trailer proves Wicked: For Good is poised to be a cultural event.

From its darker tone to its breathtaking visuals, this sequel promises to change Oz—and its fans—for good.

Mark your calendars, and get ready to be spellbound!