SPOILER ALERT: This article contains major spoilers for plot points, cameos and the ending of “Wicked,” now playing in theaters, as well as minor spoilers for the “Wicked” stage show.
It’s time to rejoicify! It’s been 21 years since the smash hit musical “Wicked” premiered on Broadway, and fans can finally watch the tale of two witches (at least, the first half of it) on the big screen in a larger-than-life film adaptation from director Jon M. Chu for Universal.
The “Wicked” movie, which stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, is chock full of thrillifying nods to its many pieces of source material — and makes some notable changes from the stage version. “Wicked: Part 2,” which will cover the events of Act 2 from the original musical, opens on Nov. 21, 2025.
For the uninitiated, the Tony-winning 2003 Broadway show starring Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth was adapted from Gregory Maguire’s book “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” which in turn is based on the 1900 novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum and its 1939 Technicolor film adaptation starring Judy Garland.
With over 120 years of related lore to soak up, you’ll be forgiven for missing a few of the more confusifying Ozmopolitan allusions in the “Wicked” film — and there are many. Below, Variety’s resident Ozians break down all the biggest easter eggs, cameos, references to “The Wizard of Oz” and changes from the beloved Broadway musical.