Just as pink goes good with green, so too does Wicked Witch of the West origin story Wicked with the big screen. Yes, after months and months of feverish anticipation (and one of the most memed press tours in recent memory), Jon M. Chu’s blockbuster take on the iconic Broadway show finally hit cinemas around the world last month. And, having opened to record breaking numbers at the box office and rave reviews — for stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, for the sweep and scope of the production, for *that* epic ‘Defying Gravity’ finale — it would be fair to say Chu’s Wizard Of Oz prequel has proven pretty popular. Even before Part Two flies into multiplexes next November.
When Empire catches up with director Chu for our world-exclusive Captain America: Brave New World issue, we find the filmmaker really holding space with the universal (and presumably Universal) praise his movie has come in for.“It’s been overwhelming,” says Chu. “As a filmmaker your focus is just on making the thing, so to see the reactions — social media on fire, people adopting the dances, getting dressed up, standing ovations after ‘Defying Gravity’ — it’s so satisfying. Wicked has become a cultural moment.”
Having already successfully created a cultural moment once, you may reasonably expect the nerves to be kicking in right about now for Chu as anticipation builds for Part Two and he attempts to make lightning strike twice. But the director — who ominously describes what’s to come after the first movie’s year-long interval as a film “about the consequences of the choices made in Part One” — is actually feeling very confident about what he’s cooked up for Wizheads when Elphie and Galinda return to our screens. “I’ve watched both movies next to each other, and all I’ll say is: we have the goods,” teases Chu. “Round two is a doozy.” Now we don’t know about you, but it all sounds pretty wicked to us. *Alexa, play ‘Defying Gravity’. Neighbours, cover your ears!*
Read more from Jon M. Chu — on the huge response to Wicked and his plans for Part Two — in Empire's February 2025 issue, on sale Thursday 19 December. Pre-order a copy online here. Wicked: Part Two releases in UK cinemas on 21 November, 2025.