Friendship, Magic, and Defiance: New ‘Wicked’ Trailer Explores the Connection Between Ariana Grande’s Glinda and Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba

A new trailer for the highly anticipated Wicked blockbuster has dropped, giving fans a glimpse into the special friendship between Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s lead characters, Glinda and Elphaba. The two-part film adaptation of the beloved musical stars Oscar-nominated actress Erivo as Elphaba, the misunderstood future Wicked Witch of the West, and Grammy-winning pop star Grande as Glinda, the Good Witch.

Directed by Crazy Rich Asians filmmaker Jon M. Chu, the film also features an all-star cast, including Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar, and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz. The new trailer offers an exciting look at the bond between Glinda and Elphaba before the events of The Wizard of Oz unfold.

The trailer opens with a dramatic announcement, “Fellow Ozians, the Wicked Witch of the West is dead,” as a witch’s hat lies ominously in a pool of steaming liquid. The scene quickly transitions to a vibrant display of magic and intrigue, with the words “discover everything that happened before Dorothy dropped in” flashing across the screen.

Grande’s Glinda makes a dazzling entrance, arriving in her iconic bubble, while Erivo’s Elphaba is shown hiding in the shadows. A voiceover ominously warns, “Don’t let her get away,” setting the stage for the unfolding drama.

The trailer then takes viewers back to the beginning, with Glinda narrating, “Let me tell you the whole story; our paths did cross at school,” as scenes of the two witches’ first meeting are revealed. Their friendship is further explored in a tender moment where Bailey’s Fiyero, standing in a forest with Elphaba, asks, “Why is it you’re always causing some kind of commotion?” Elphaba’s enigmatic response, “I don’t cause commotions, I am one. Some of us are just different,” hints at the challenges she faces.

The bond between the two witches deepens as Glinda encourages Elphaba, saying, “Listen to me, you can do anything,” to which Elphaba confidently replies, “I know,” before dramatically breaking through a window and soaring into the sky on her broomstick. The pair is also seen exploring the bustling streets of Emerald City, while Goldblum’s Wizard of Oz ominously declares, “The best way to bring folks together is to give them a real good enemy.”

The trailer reaches a climax as Glinda urges Elphaba not to be afraid, only for Elphaba to declare, “It’s the wizard that should be afraid of me,” before she takes flight once again. The trailer’s powerful imagery is underscored by Grande and Erivo’s stirring rendition of the musical’s iconic song, “Defying Gravity.”

Serving as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, the Wicked film delves into the origins of the strained relationship between the two witches, who were once close friends. In the classic story, Elphaba is known as the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda as the Good Witch of the South, with their bond long fractured by the time Dorothy arrives in Oz.

The first part of Wicked is set to hit theaters on November 28th, and fans are eagerly anticipating this new cinematic journey through the land of Oz.