The highly anticipated question of Elphaba Thropp’s true parentage is finally answered in Wicked: For Good. The second film reveals the Wizard is the biological father of the Wicked Witch of the West.
This report contains spoilers for Wicked: For Good.
In the first Wicked film, mirroring the Broadway musical, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) has green skin due to her deceased mother drinking a magical green elixir. This elixir was given by an unknown man involved in an extramarital affair.
Neither Elphaba nor her father, the late Governor of Munchkinland, were initially aware of the affair. Wicked: For Good confirms that the Wizard, played by Jeff Goldblum, is Elphaba’s true father.
The revelation unfolds at the conclusion of For Good. Elphaba’s friend, Glinda (Ariana Grande), offers the Wizard a green potion to confirm his paternity.
The Wizard subsequently flees Oz as Glinda arrests Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). The story then concludes with the other inhabitants of Oz living happily.
Director Jon M. Chu has made it clear that Wicked: For Good significantly departs from the beloved Broadway production. He explained his creative choices in an interview with Entertainment Weekly published on Thursday, November 20.
Chu stated, "I didn’t have to convince anyone of anything. They believed in our world, they believed in Elphaba." He added that this support encouraged the team to embrace Elphaba’s transformation, where "independence feels like rejection rather than growth."
He noted the initial assumption was that the second movie needed to be light and lively. Chu commented, "But [For Good] isn’t a light and lively story. Everything has fallen apart."
The director explained that the audience’s willingness to accept a darker narrative provided "a lot of freedom." He felt he could delve deeper into character development without "sugarcoat[ing] some of those moments."
Beyond script adaptations, Chu also incorporated new songs into the film’s soundtrack. Marissa Bode, who portrays Elphaba’s sister Nessarose, discussed her character’s solo, "The Wicked Witch of the East."
Bode expressed her nervousness about the song to Us Weekly in early November. She noted the pressure, saying, "I think it’s not on the original Broadway album and it is on this [soundtrack], so there’s a lot of pressure. I hope I did it justice, and that the audience enjoys it."
In addition to Nessarose’s solo, both Elphaba and Glinda also received new musical numbers.
Wicked: For Good is now playing in theaters.