Spoiler Alert: Minor plot details ahead.
Atlanta fans stepped into the Emerald City on Tuesday night as Universal Pictures’ Wicked: For Good opened at Atlantic Station, drawing longtime devotees of the musical, multigenerational families, and cosplayers dressed as their favorite Ozians.
The sequel to 2024’s Wicked continues the story of Elphaba and Glinda as they fully embrace their roles as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. Directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, the new film adapts Act II of the long-running Broadway musical, expanding character arcs and deepening the political and emotional stakes of the Land of Oz.
For many Atlantans, this movie was more than just a premiere, but a cultural gathering that transcended ideology and condition.
“They changed the story, made it relevant, and made it pure,” said attendee Deborah Mayronne, 74, who saw the musical decades ago. “To say that all good deeds go unpunished, that was our theme in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Now to see that message passed from generation to generation, it means my granddaughter will look at this as history. The lessons are universal.”
Others arrived in full cosplay, blending Broadway fandom with Atlanta’s vibrant creative community. Content creator Davie Rickenbacker, also known as @iamdavie on social media, dressed in a gender-bent version of Elphaba, which he named “Elphabro”. Rickenbacker said the energy around the film felt personal.
“I’ve been cosplaying for years, and the Wicked fandom is huge,” he said. “This is me paying homage to my younger self. I grew up watching The Wizard of Oz; it’s my mom’s favorite movie. Tonight feels like bringing that full circle.”
He said he was especially excited to see how the sequel introduces Dorothy, whose face is not shown in the film, and how the story weaves its characters from the first film into the original characters we have come to know.
The film was laden with anticipation, especially for audiences who connected with its themes after experiencing the first installment in 2024. What Avengers: Endgame was for comic-book fans, Wicked: For Good is for theatre kids, both young and old.
“I love the message behind the movie,” said Monica Awe, who attended with her daughter. “It reminds you that just because things are pretty and glitzy doesn’t mean they’re good. Being different is okay. Accepting people for who they are, that’s important.”
Early reactions echoed praise from the international premieres earlier this month.
Local moviegoer Katriana Simmon highlighted the film’s faithfulness to the musical. “They added small nods that fans will catch,” she said. “At the end, instead of showing the full fight between Elphaba and Dorothy, they kept it like the play and used shadows. It was a great touch.”
Wicked: For Good features returning stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, alongside Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Bowen Yang, and Jeff Goldblum. Colman Domingo joins the cast as the voice of the Cowardly Lion. The film concludes a two-part adaptation more than a decade in the making, after multiple delays and a pandemic-interrupted production schedule.
The sequel opens nationwide Nov. 21.
For Atlanta fans, opening night offered more than musical spectacles featured in the film; it delivered a tale as old as time, a story of good versus evil that continues to evolve.
“It’s meaningful to all generations,” Mayronne said. “The energy the movie gives back to us is the energy we bring to it.”