Does Wicked Have a Post-Credits Scene? The Hit Musical's Ending, Explained (2024)

One of the most anticipated movies of the year has arrived in Wicked. A reworking of the iconic Broadway musical and the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, it basically acts as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. It stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp -- the mage who'd become the Wicked Witch of the West.

It's an origin story for her and Ariana Grande's Galinda Upland, a friend at Shiz University. After overcoming differences, both women become embroiled in a nasty mystical conspiracy. It leads to an emotional ending that reminds fans that being good or evil is all a matter of perspective.

What Is Elphaba's Purpose in Wicked?

Elphaba Is Fighting for Animals' Rights in Oz​​​​​

In Jon M. Chu's Wicked, Elphaba wants to use her magic for good. She has been shunned due to her green skin and is considered an anomaly, but it hasn't deterred her fighting for a cause. She becomes an animal activist after seeing the Oz elites and politicians taking away rights and civil liberties from talking animals. This erodes equality and diversity in the realm.

She sees her mentor, Doctor Dillamond (Peter Dinklage), a goat and history professor, suffer because of this bigotry. Elphaba wants to stand against this subjugation. It speaks to her purpose and destiny, versus Galinda, who comes from a place of privilege and entitlement. Still, Galinda wants to be Elphaba's rock, realizing the virtuous nature of her friend.

Wicked's Villains Are Madame Morrible and the Wizard

Elpbaha Has Been Used to Unlock a Supernatural Book

Michelle Yeoh's Madame Morrible is the Dean of Sorcery who has taken Elphaba under her wing. She sees potential in her and Galinda after they were rivals. She takes them to the Emerald City to meet the Wonderful Wizard and bask in his magic. There, Elphaba is goaded to read from a magic tome called the Grimmerie. The incantation turns the monkey guards into winged beings subservient to Oz. Elphaba quickly realizes she has been manipulated due to her talents.

Wicked Movie Details

The facetious Wizard is a fraud who actually knows no magic, so he has used Morrible to carry out his dirty work to grab power and control. Morrible and the Wizard needed the spellbook unlocked so they could create flying spies. It turns out, they have been responsible for the xenophobia all over the realm.

They want to turn the people against the talking animals, giving them a common enemy. This will allow them to control the population. It's a powerful political message, as many countries experience this: cults of personality framing innocents, outsiders and migrants as threats.

Wicked's Elphaba Is Betrayed By Galinda

Galinda Becomes Glinda and Abandons Elphaba

Elphaba wants no part of this nasty initiative. She doesn't accept the offer to partner with the villains, not even if it cures her green skin. It speaks to elitism, class divides in society, and colorism. She is proud of who she is. She steals the tome, fights off the enemies, and escapes. She will stop the drive to remove the animals' humanity, one way or another. However, it won't be easy.

Morrible has sullied her name and let all of Oz know Elphaba is the enemy. Elphaba's plan is to flee to the West and forge a revolution. But to the people, her resistance will be seen as a terrorist endeavor, making her the Wicked Witch of the West. She begs Galinda (who is now going by Glinda) to come with her. But Glinda betrays her in a spiritual sense. Glinda instead asks her best friend to patch the rift with the villains and work for the greater good.

Elphaba admits she will never ally with such fiends. Glinda stays behind despite offering her approval. Glinda is now a prisoner of sorts, although she can be viewed as complicit for turning a blind eye. She understands Elphaba's mission, but she can't partake. The finale culminates in the signature "Defying Gravity" medley and Elphaba warning she will save the animals, even if she is vilified. She will not let a toxic man like the Wizard or a selfish tyrant like Morrible bring her down or dim her shine.

Does Wicked Have a Post-Credits Scene?

Wicked Doesn't Need End-Credits to Set Up Wicked 2

Wicked does not have a post-credits scene. It doesn't need one. Instead, there is a tagline confirming the second part. This chapter is Wicked Part One, but Elphaba's journey will continue in Wicked Part Two. The sequel will be out a year from now, in November 2025. As for the direction, there are many key arcs to pick up on. Elphaba will have to find allies and perfect her powers. She will also have to finish her story with Jonathan Bailey's Fiyero, the head of the Oz guards.

Glinda is engaged to Fiyero, but he wants to be with Elphaba. It shapes a dramatic love triangle to come. Morrible is manipulating the romance, too, suggesting she will be a key reason why Glinda becomes a powerful witch, herself. This battle may well lead to a big twist in the lore: Fiyero becoming the Scarecrow. There are other romantic arcs to wrap up. Boq Woodsman loves Glinda, but he has also found an affinity for Elphaba's paraplegic sister, Nessarose. The source material had Elphaba blessing her sister's shoes, only for Dorothy to land in Oz, accidentally crush her, and take the shoes.

The sequel is set to address Nessarose and Elphaba uniting. Their father, the governor of Munchkinland, seemingly dies in the movie after learning of Elphaba's "evil" turn, so Elphaba will want to ensure their dynasty isn't slandered. In the process, Nessarose is set to become the Wicked Witch of the East, once she learns how her sibling has been lied about. Per the source material, Boq is also due for an intriguing fate, as Nessarose accidentally cast a spell, crushed his heart and made him the Tin Man when she learned of his affections for Glinda. The sequel will deal with other Wizard of Oz characters.

This film opens with Dorothy, Toto and her friends watching Elphaba's death (melting due to water thrown on her). News regarding this follow-up teased their presence again. Given Elphaba will likely unite with the rebels, this paves the way for the Cowardly Lion (who appears as a cub in an experiment at the school) to enter the fray, too. The upcoming war could well be why he will become so scared. It teases Wicked Part Two developing all the characters' personalities and their traits to kick off Dorothy's story and mire Elphaba's ambitions in tragedy.

Wicked is now in theaters.

9

10

Wicked

PG

Adventure

Fantasy

Musical

The story of how a green-skinned woman framed by the Wizard of Oz becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. The first of a two-part feature film adaptation of the Broadway musical.

Director

Jon M. Chu

Release Date

November 22, 2024

Cast

Cynthia Erivo , Ariana Grande , Michelle Yeoh , Jeff Goldblum , Jonathan Bailey , Ethan Slater , Marissa Bode , Bowen Yang , Bronwyn James , Keala Settle , Peter Dinklage , Aaron Teoh , Grecia De la Paz , Colin Michael Carmichael , Adam James , Andy Nyman , Courtney Mae-Briggs , Sharon D. Clarke , Jenna Boyd

Writers

Gregory Maguire , Winnie Holzman , Dana Fox , L. Frank Baum

Runtime

160 Minutes

Main Genre

Musical

Studio(s)

Marc Platt Productions

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

Character(s)

Elphaba Thropp , Glinda Upland , Madame Morrible , The Wizard , Fiyero Tigelaar , Boq , Nessarose Thropp , Pfannee , ShenShen , Miss Coddle , Doctor Dillamond (voice) , Avaric Tenmeadows , Gilligan , Professor Nikidik , Glinda's Father , Governor Frexspar Thropp , Melena Thropp , The Midwife