The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2025 - Issue 37

bitefilms Wicked he musical fantasy film adapta- tion of Wicked: For Good, direct- ed by Jon M. Chu, is a sweeping, emotionally charged conclusion to the two-part adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical. Where Part One laid the foundation of Elphaba and Glinda’s unlikely bond, For Good deepens it by transforming their story from a tale of rivalry and rebellion into a poignant meditation on perception, power, and the cost of being seen. Cynthia Erivo returns as Elphaba with a performance that is ferocious and fragile. Now exiled and vilified, she becomes a mythic figure in the Ozian forest, fighting for the silenced Animals and clinging to the truth she knows about the Wizard’s regime. Erivo’s raw, aching, defiant voice carries the weight of a woman who has been rewritten by history but refuses to disappear. Ariana Grande’s Glinda, meanwhile, is luminous and conflicted. Elevated to the role of Oz’s glittering symbol of goodness, she navigates fame with a smile that increasingly feels like armour. Grande brings surprising depth to Glin- da’s arc, especially as she prepares for her opulent wedding to Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) while haunted by her separation from Elphaba. Visually, the film is a marvel. From the emerald opulence of Glinda’s palace to the shadowy, enchanted wilds where Elphaba hides, each frame is drenched in theatricality and symbolism. The costume design leans into light and shadow, mirroring the duality of illusion and truth that reflects the film’s central tension. The supporting cast shines with Mi- chelle Yeoh as the chillingly composed Madame Morrible, and Jeff Goldblum exudes charm laced with menace as the Wizard. Julia Lester’s Nessarose and Ethan Slater’s Boq are given more emo- tional texture, their fates intertwined with the film’s darker turns. Wicked: For Good soars musically. The titular duet between Elphaba and Glinda is a heart-wrenching high point, more a reckoning than a goodbye. The score, reorchestrated with cinematic sweep, honours Stephen Schwartz’s original compositions while expanding their emotional resonance. Although this may be the story’s finale, it prompts us to reconsider who is considered wicked and why. In doing so, it casts a powerful spell that lingers long after the last note fades. Release date: 21 November 2025 www.wickedmovie.com For Good