Wicked: For Good – Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande on Themes of Good & Evil

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I’m so excited for Wicked: For Good! It’s the continuation of the Wicked story, picking up after Elphaba—you know, the Wicked Witch of the West—challenges the Wizard of Oz. Jon M. Chu is directing, and the cast is amazing – Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, and so many other incredible actors like Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum! It’s based on the super popular Wicked Broadway musical, which itself was inspired by the book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West from 1995. I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds!

All three versions of the story explore the ideas of good versus evil and how propaganda can hide a dishonest government, though the musical version is less harsh than the book. Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, recently explained her take on the character, stating, “I’ve always seen Elphaba as a misunderstood character, and it’s become clear to me that how things appear is often the most important thing.”

As Cynthia Erivo explained, our ideas of good and evil aren’t fixed. They change based on our perspective – who we are, and how we see the world. The way we view someone – their race, appearance, or even their voice – shapes our judgment. Essentially, our personal biases act as a filter through which we see everything.

Erivo also pointed out that what we consider ‘good’ is really a matter of opinion. She wondered if the ‘good’ we talk about is truly good, or just an illusion of it. She explored the gap between what goodness and evil are in reality, and how we perceive them, and how quickly we assign blame to others instead of taking responsibility ourselves.

Ariana Grande, who plays a friend of Elphaba and is used by the Wizard in the film, shared that she loves the central question the movie explores. She also expressed appreciation for how the song ‘For Good’ encourages viewers to think about why people are so quick to judge and label others.

Ariana Grande explained that people are shaped by their life experiences, both good and bad. She feels we live in a time where nuance and genuine connection are lost, and everything is reduced to brief, easily digestible content. Regarding the film’s message, she believes it’s important to remember that everyone has a story, and we should try to find the humanity in others, because you never truly know what someone else has been through.

Even though Elphaba has good reasons for challenging the Wizard, most people in Oz disagree. This puts Glinda in a difficult position, forcing her to decide what truly being good means. Their story comes to a powerful conclusion with the release of Wicked: For Good in theaters on November 21, 2025.

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2025-11-21 05:32