This article contains spoilers for Evil: forever.
Defying Gravity: An Inside Look at Evil: Forever
One year after Wicked hits theaters, its sequel, Evil: forever, is already defying gravity at the box office. The film stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as the Witches of Oz, Elphaba and Glinda, respectively. The conflict at the center of Forever revolves around Elphaba’s fight against the oppressive Wizard of Oz, played by Jeff Goldblum, to stop the mistreatment of animals. Glinda is caught in the middle, torn between her loyalty to the Wizard and her friendship with Elphaba.
The Dynamic Between Elphaba and Glinda
Throughout the film, the tension between Elphaba and Glinda escalates as they find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. Glinda’s internal struggle is highlighted when her fiancé, Fiyero, leaves her for Elphaba. Despite their differences, Glinda ultimately helps Elphaba when an angry mob threatens her life. This act of compassion is underscored by a new song, «The Girl in the Bubble,» which delves into Glinda’s motivations and character development.
«To be fair to Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, who created the original musical, there were elements of the story that we had to cut out or never got around to crafting. If we ever make a movie, there’s a buildup that feels very organic, and most of it is in the second half,» producer Marc Platt explained.
Exploring Glinda’s Journey
The film delves deeper into Glinda’s backstory, exploring her need to be perceived as magical and the sacrifices she makes to maintain that facade. Platt emphasizes the importance of understanding Glinda’s internal conflict and the evolution of her character throughout the story. New songs like «There’s No Place Like Home» add depth to the characters but have received mixed reactions for potentially slowing down the film’s pace.
Evil: Forever’s Impact
Despite the changes from stage to screen, Evil: forever delivers a powerful message about performative kindness and the consequences of societal expectations. The film revises Glinda’s arc, showing her actively working to make Oz safe for animals once again. Through its compelling narrative and stellar performances, the sequel lives up to the promise of its premise, captivating audiences and breaking hearts along the way.
Director: Jon Chu
Writers: Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox, Gregory Maguire
Release Date: November 21, 2025
Runtime: 137 minutes
Experience the magic of Evil: forever in theaters now.
