Wicked For Good’s Ending Just Revised the Musical With 5 Major Changes

The ending of the movie Wicked: For Good isn’t quite the same as the one in the original musical. The story began with Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, which Stephen Schwartz later turned into the popular Broadway show in 2003. Because the first Wicked film closely followed the musical, viewers were excited to see how the sequel would handle the second part of the story and its well-known conclusion.

As the story continues, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) discovers she’s been deceived by the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and wrongly branded as the Wicked Witch of the West. At the same time, Glinda (Ariana Grande) has risen to prominence in Oz, though she secretly feels insecure about her limited magical abilities.

So, the original ending of Wicked is pretty dramatic! Basically, Elphaba locks Dorothy up, trying to get back the red shoes that belonged to her sister, Nessa – the one who actually died in that tornado Dorothy arrived in (though it turns out Madame Morrible was behind it all!). They have this really emotional reunion where Elphaba and Glinda sing ‘For Good’, and then Elphaba seemingly melts when Dorothy throws water on her. But here’s the twist – she faked her death! It turns out she escapes Oz with Fiyero, which is a much better ending, honestly.

Throughout the musical Wicked, the core story remains consistent. However, a few important alterations are made which might lead audiences to see the conclusion of Elphaba and Glinda’s relationship in a new light.

How Wicked: For Good Changes The Musical’s Ending

Animals Return to Oz

Throughout the musical Wicked, Elphaba strongly fights against the mistreatment of animals. In Oz, animals were once considered equal to people, but as abuse – especially from the Wizard – increased, and more animals were caged, they began to lose their magical abilities. They could no longer talk and started leaving Oz, fearing they would be harmed.

Following Elphaba’s death, Glinda becomes the leader of Oz and decides to fulfill her friend’s wish by allowing animals to return. While the musical doesn’t show much of what Glinda does after Elphaba is gone, the movie adds a scene to demonstrate how Glinda carries on Elphaba’s work and honors her memory.

The Grimmerie

Just before Elphaba makes her ultimate sacrifice, she gives Glinda her magical spellbook, the Grimmerie. Throughout the story of Wicked, it’s made clear that only a real witch can use the Grimmerie – which explains why the Wizard, who isn’t actually magical, can’t read it. Glinda struggles with magic herself, but in the very last scene of Wicked: For Good, the Grimmerie magically opens for her.

There’s a lot of debate about why the Grimmerie works for Glinda, but a popular idea is that it finally acknowledges her as a genuine witch because of what she does in the film. Ariana Grande, speaking on the Shut Up Evan podcast, explained that she thinks the Grimmerie unlocks for Glinda because she proves herself with her magic and her inherent kindness allows her to access magic by the movie’s end.

I really love how the movie shows her magic being earned. Throughout the film, she’s forced to confront reality and move beyond pretending. Each difficult experience pushes her towards becoming a better person. You can’t help but grow from trauma and sadness, and that growth makes her final reward – regaining her magic – even more meaningful.

Does Glinda Know Elphaba Is Alive?

In the musical Wicked, Fiyero warns Elphaba that Glinda mustn’t discover she’s still alive, as it would put her in danger. They then escape the Emerald City, leaving Glinda to believe her friend is gone. The new film, Wicked: For Good, continues this idea, though a song at the end suggests Glinda might secretly suspect Elphaba survived.

It was so moving at the very end! As Elphaba and Fiyero left Oz, both she and Glinda sang a little bit of ‘For Good,’ but separately. There was this really powerful moment where Elphaba actually turned towards Glinda as she sang, and at the exact same time, the Grimmerie opened for Glinda back in the Emerald City. It felt like a connection, even as they were going their separate ways.

The director may have intended this, but Elphaba’s knowing smile suggests Glinda secretly believes her friend is still alive. This idea is further supported by the Grimmerie opening to a page with two hands when Glinda uses it – a possible reference to the song lyric ‘like a handprint on my heart.’ Many fans see this as a subtle hint that Elphaba is actually still alive.

Where do Fiyero and Elphaba Go?

The musical Wicked shows Elphaba and Fiyero leaving the Emerald City, but their destination remains a mystery. However, the novel Wicked: For Good offers a clue, depicting them venturing into a barren desert, far beyond the familiar landscapes of Oz.

Jon M. Chu, the director, told Entertainment Weekly they aimed to show hope and potential for Fiyero and Elphaba as they face what’s next, suggesting a bright future for the pair.

As a movie fan, I really loved what director Jon M. Chu did with the desert setting in the film. We initially played around with making it a really frightening, desolate place – almost like facing your worst nightmares. But ultimately, we landed on something much more hopeful. It’s not about emptiness, but about endless potential. It felt important to show these characters walking towards a bright future, empowered to decide their own destinies, because nobody had really dared to show that kind of optimism before.

Recreating the Wicked Poster

Another subtle change to Wicked’s ending in Wicked: For Good is only made possible through movie magic.

The movie ends with a beautiful flashback – a memory of a simpler time when Elphaba, Glinda, Fiyero, Nessa, and Boq were all just hanging out together in the fields near Shiz. It’s a really poignant moment, with Elphaba and Glinda both remembering this perfect instance of their friendship. The very last shot is Glinda leaning in to whisper something to Elphaba – it’s a direct echo of that iconic Wicked poster, and honestly, it gave me chills.

Because of the limitations of adapting a story for the stage, this memory wasn’t included in the original musical. However, Wicked: For Good still delivers a touching conclusion to Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship, and cleverly includes a hidden treat for devoted fans by recreating a familiar poster.

2025-11-29 15:36