‘Wicked: For Good’: Read The Screenplay For The Film That Follows The Yellow Brick Road All The Way To ‘The Wizard Of Oz’

Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series spotlighting the scripts behind the awards season’s most talked-about movies continues with Wicked: For Good, the second film in the Jon M. Chu-directed adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical.

Written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, Wicked: For Good picks up with a time jump following Elphaba’s (Cynthia Erivo) show-stealing “Defying Gravity” as the Wicked Witch of the West torments Yellow Brick Road construction and hides in the woods beyond Oz. Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero leads the soldiers that search for her, while Glinda (Ariana Grande) has become a popular public figure under the thumb of Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh).

Two new songs were written for this sequel film, “No Place Like Home” for Erivo’s Elphaba and “Girl in the Bubble” for Grande’s Glinda; both this week made the Oscar shortlist for Best Song. It followed a whirlwind of accolades this season so far for the film, which is up for five Golden Globes, seven Critics Choice Awards and was named an AFI Film of the Year.

It follows another blockbuster showing at the box office, with Wicked: For Good‘s global gross at $469.2 million since it’s November 17 release.

Like in the Broadway production, the second movie does weave back into the story of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz, revealing what became of Boq (Ethan Slater), Nessarose (Marrisa Bode) and even Fiyero himself. Colman Domingo’s Cowardly Lion briefly appears, while Dorothy’s face is never truly seen. The most heartbreaking moments take place between star duo Erivo and Grande, who only realize just how much their friendship has altered the course of their lives as they are forced to head their separate ways. 

Jeff Goldblum’s Wizard also returns for a moment, luring the pair into an agreement that Elphaba refuses to consider. The circumstances behind her birth are brought more into focus, and she and Fiyero finally act on their feelings for each other. The sweeping and soaring story ends with the unbreakable connection between Elphie and Glinda on full display even as Elphaba and Fiyero leave Oz for good and Glinda opens The Grimmerie to be greeted with magic.

Read the screenplay below.