Composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz discussed the pressure surrounding the upcoming sequel Wicked: For Good, following the successful debut of the first film adaptation of the Broadway musical.
Schwartz, who worked on the score for both films, acknowledged the high expectations after the initial positive reception.
“We are trying to keep our heads down and focus because there’s a lot of work to do, but it is exciting,” Schwartz said. “We have a lot to live up to.”
The first Wicked movie, directed by Jon M. Chu, covered the first act of the popular stage show. It received positive reviews and earned nominations during awards season.
The film also performed strongly at the box office. The movie was a hit globally.
Wicked: For Good is set to adapt the second act of the musical and is expected to include new songs alongside existing popular numbers.
Both parts of the film adaptation were shot concurrently, featuring the same cast and production team.
Despite feeling pressure, Schwartz described it as a positive challenge stemming from the first movie's success.
The first Wicked film is available for streaming on Peacock.
Wicked: For Good is scheduled for release on November 21 as part of the 2025 movie release list.
Schwartz added, “I can’t deny feeling some pressure because of that, but that’s what they call a good problem to have.”
