Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo: Oscars Buzz for ‘For Good

Is Oscar Gold Headed Back to Oz?

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo turned last year’s Wicked movie musical into more than just a box office phenomenon; they were decorated with Oscar nominations in the process.

Wicked: For Good (in theaters now), the second and final of Jon M. Chu’s two movies adapting Stephen Schwartz and winnie Holzman’s hit Broadway show about the witches of Oz, could very well become an awards darling, much like the first film.

Last year, Wicked earned Oscars for its production and costume design out of 10 nominations total, including a best Best Picture nod, plus nominations for Erivo, 38, for Best Actress as Elphaba and Grande, 32, for Best Supporting Actress as Glinda.

Will those nominations repeat? If the sequel’s leading ladies indeed earn back-to-back nods in their same respective categories, they’d join an elite group of actors Oscar-nominated twice for the same role (think Al Pacino, twice nominated in the Godfather franchise). No actor has ever won an Oscar for a sequel (except Robert De Niro for The Godfather Part II, but he did not appear in its predecessor). And Erivo, previously nominated for her work in 2019’s harriet, would earn the distinction.

NEED TO KNOW

* The movie musical Wicked: For Good is in theaters now
* The sequel to 2024’s Wicked could be destined for Best Picture Academy Award nomination
* Awards pundits weigh in on Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s chances for the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress Oscar races, respectively

‘Wicked: For Good’ Positions Itself as a Major Awards Contender

The upcoming Wicked sequel is generating significant Oscar buzz, with many industry experts predicting a strong showing at the 2025 Academy Awards. Clayton Davis last ranked it at 6th.

GoldDerby’s Ethan Alter notes the film “is smartly positioning itself as 2025’s answer to The Lord of the Rings, a multipart franchise where the final chapter becomes the one that reaps all the rewards of the audience’s investment.” While a complete sweep like Return of the King is considered unlikely, the “final chapter” narrative holds considerable power.

Best Actress

As of the opening weekend release of Wicked: For Good, GoldDerby lists Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande safely in the top 5 of predictions for the Oscars’ Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories, respectively. Feinberg is confident they will both receive nominations, currently placing erivo in 3rd place after her loss last year to Anora’s Mikey Madison.

Though, analysts agree Erivo and Grande face differing challenges. Erivo is predicted to contend with a competitive field including Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Emma Stone (Bugonia), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), Amanda Seyfried (The Testament of ann Lee), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue) and Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You).

While Wicked: For Good is expected to outperform these films at the box office, ScreenRant points out, “Its rare that an actor wins an Oscar for a role in a mega blockbuster.”

‘Wicked: Part One’ Now in Theaters, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo

Wicked: Part One, the highly anticipated film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, is now playing in theaters. The movie stars Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, bringing the untold story of the Witches of Oz to a new generation. The cast also includes Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, and Michelle Yeoh. https://www.universalpictures.com/movies/wicked

About the Film

Based on the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by gregory Maguire, the musical and now the film explore the events leading up to and beyond the classic story of The Wizard of Oz. Wicked reimagines the narrative, portraying the Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba) and Glinda the Good Witch as complex characters with compelling backstories.

The film is directed by Jon M. Chu, known for his work on Crazy Rich asians and In the Heights. The screenplay is by winnie Holzman, who also wrote the book for the stage musical.https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2593888/

Cast and Characters

* Ariana Grande as Glinda Upland: A popular and seemingly perfect witch who initially clashes with Elphaba.
* Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp: A misunderstood and ostracized witch with extraordinary abilities.
* Jeff Goldblum as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The enigmatic ruler of Oz.
* Jonathan Bailey as fiyero Tigelaar: A charming and adventurous prince.
* michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible: The headmistress of Shiz University.

Behind the Scenes and Further Information

For fans eager to delve deeper into the making of Wicked: Part One, PEOPLE has released a special edition featuring cast interviews and exclusive behind-the-scenes photos.What to Expect: Wicked: Part Two

Wicked: part One is only the first half of the story. global Pictures plans to release Wicked: Part Two on November 26, 2025, to complete the adaptation of the full musical. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/wicked-part-two-release-date-1235849441/

Key Takeaways:

* Wicked: Part One is now in theaters.
* The film stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in the leading roles.
* The movie is based on the popular Broadway musical and Gregory Maguire’s novel.
* Wicked: Part two is scheduled for release in November 2025.