Honestly, the transition from pop star to Glinda the Good wasn’t just a career pivot for Ariana Grande. It was a total soul-level takeover. If you saw the first film, you know she nailed the high-pitched, perky, slightly-nauseatingly-sweet vibe of Galinda Upland. But Ariana Grande in Wicked Part 2—officially titled Wicked: For Good—is a completely different beast. It’s heavier. It's darker.
Most people went into the sequel expecting more pink bubbles and "Popular" energy. Instead, they got a political thriller wrapped in a sequined gown. Part 2, which hit theaters in November 2025, picks up the pieces after Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) flies out the window and leaves Glinda to handle the PR nightmare back at the Emerald City.
The Glinda Trajectory: It’s Not Just Sparkles anymore
In the second half of this epic, Glinda isn't just a popular girl. She’s a propaganda tool. Director Jon M. Chu basically leaned into the idea that Glinda is trapped. She’s the "symbol of Goodness," but she's working for a fascist regime led by the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh).
Ariana plays this with a sort of twitchy, repressed anxiety that makes your heart ache. You’ve got to realize that while Elphaba is out being a vigilante for animal rights, Glinda is stuck in the palace, being forced into a public engagement with Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey).
The "fake" engagement is one of the biggest emotional anchors in Ariana Grande in Wicked Part 2. Glinda literally stages a public stunt to announce their marriage, even though she knows Fiyero’s heart is somewhere else. It’s desperate. It’s kinda sad. And it shows a level of acting depth that many critics didn’t think Grande had in her before this project.
That New Song "The Girl in the Bubble"
One of the major surprises was the addition of new music. Stephen Schwartz wrote two fresh tracks for the films, and Glinda’s solo, "The Girl in the Bubble," is a total gut-punch.
It happens when the witch hunters are literally gathering outside her door. She’s looking at her reflection, realizing her whole public persona is a lie. The lyrics are pretty literal: “For the girl in the bubble / The pink shiny bubble / It’s time for her bubble to pop.” Unlike "Popular," which was all about surface-level charm, this song is about the ideological death of the "Glinda" the world knows. It’s quiet, reflective, and honestly, a bit soporific for some, but it gives Ariana a chance to show off her lower register and some serious dramatic chops.
Why the Two-Part Split Actually Worked
There was a lot of skepticism when Universal announced Wicked would be two movies. People thought it was a cash grab. But after seeing Part 2, it’s clear they needed the space to breathe.
In the stage musical, Act 2 moves at a breakneck speed. Dorothy shows up, the house falls, the shoes are stolen, and Elphaba "melts" all in about 45 minutes. The movie slows it down. We actually see the horror of what Morrible does.
Fact Check: Madame Morrible isn't just a mean teacher in the sequel; she’s a murderer. She’s the one who creates the cyclone that brings Dorothy’s house to Oz specifically to kill Nessarose and lure Elphaba out of hiding.
This version of Wicked: For Good gives us more time with Nessarose (Marissa Bode) and her tragic descent into being a dictator in Munchkinland. We see her turn Boq into the Tin Man in a scene that is way more graphic and upsetting than anything you’d see on Broadway.
The Chemistry Between Ariana and Cynthia
You can’t talk about Ariana Grande in Wicked Part 2 without mentioning the "For Good" duet. It’s the climax of the film. By the time they get to this song, they’ve fought, they’ve screamed, and they’ve realized they’ll probably never see each other again.
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The film adds a massive fight scene between the two before the song starts. It’s messy. It involves hair-pulling and actual rage. But then they settle into that iconic melody. Ariana and Cynthia’s voices blend in a way that feels almost supernatural. It’s the reason the movie works.
What Happens in the Ending? (Spoilers!)
If you’re a fan of the book by Gregory Maguire, you might have been worried they’d kill Elphaba off. But the movie sticks closer to the stage show’s "happily ever after... mostly" ending.
- Elphaba fakes her death during the "melting" scene.
- She escapes through a trapdoor and meets up with Fiyero (who is now the Scarecrow).
- Glinda is left behind to run Oz, unaware that her best friend is actually alive.
It’s a bittersweet ending for Ariana’s character. She gets the power she always wanted, but she’s completely alone. The final shot of her in the bubble, looking down at the celebration while hiding Elphaba’s green elixir bottle, is haunting.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you’ve already seen the movie and you’re obsessed, there’s actually more to dive into than just rewatching.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: The Wicked: For Good soundtrack features "No Place Like Home" (Elphaba's new solo) and "The Girl in the Bubble." They hit differently when you can hear every breath in the recording.
- Check out the Digital Release: As of January 2026, the film is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV. It’s expected to land on Peacock by March 2026.
- Follow the Cast’s Next Moves: Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey are already moving on to their next project together—a production of Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George coming in 2027.
The journey of Ariana Grande in Wicked Part 2 really cements her as a legitimate force in musical cinema. She didn't just play Glinda; she deconstructed her. Whether you're a theater purist or a casual fan, the depth she brought to the "Good Witch" is something we'll be talking about for a long time.
The film is currently available for digital purchase for $29.99, allowing you to catch all the tiny details in the Emerald City sets that you might have missed in the theater.