Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey and the entire Oz ensemble shut down Manhattan for the U.S. premiere of the year’s most spectacular sequel.
The yellow brick road ran straight through Lincoln Center on Monday night as Universal unveiled the New York premiere of Wicked: For Good, the second chapter in Jon M. Chu’s sweeping, two-part adaptation of the Broadway phenomenon. For a franchise that already delivered nine-figure box office, a cultural takeover, and ten Oscar nominations with its first installment, the studio treated this premiere like a coronation. And New York rose to meet the moment.
Ariana Grande swept onto the carpet in a Glinda-coded look — a dramatic pink tulle skirt paired with a sculpted black bodice — the kind of heightened fantasy couture that instantly commands a thousand flashbulbs. Cynthia Erivo countered with a black, floor-length statement gown blending leather and feathers, reinforcing why she’s one of Hollywood’s most powerful red carpet presences. Jonathan Bailey arrived built for the spotlight, wearing a razor-sharp black suit with a Nehru jacket that made him look every bit the prince.
The main cast didn’t arrive alone. Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Colman Domingo, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang and more brought a unified “Emerald City Elegance” energy to Lincoln Center, leaning into the aesthetic with enthusiasm rarely seen at premieres of this scale. Even off-screen supporters understood the assignment. Jane Krakowski, Jimmy Fallon, Gayle King, Nate Burleson, Mellody Hobson and George Lucas were among the notables who turned out to celebrate the film. The overall vibe was old-school Hollywood showmanship — the kind studios rarely commit to anymore.
The global roadshow leading up to this moment has been massive. Brazil, London, Paris and Singapore hosted early premieres, though not without some chaos along the way. Grande missed the Brazil event due to an aircraft mechanical issue, and in Singapore, a man jumped a barricade and attempted to grab her before security intervened. But Monday night in Manhattan was calm, orderly and electric — a true homecoming for a film that has defined the last year of moviegoing.
Wicked: For Good picks up where the first movie left off. Elphaba (Erivo) escalates her mission to expose the Wizard (Goldblum), while Glinda (Grande) leans further into her public persona as she prepares to marry Fiyero (Bailey). The original film earned more than $746 million worldwide and landed ten Academy Award nominations, including acting nods for both Grande and Erivo. Universal is positioning the sequel as the culmination — the emotional, musical and narrative payoff audiences have been waiting for.
standout moments from the
Wicked: For Good — NY premiere
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
Stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande at the “Wicked: For Good” New York Premiere held at Lincoln Center in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Jonathan Bailey
Jonathan Bailey at the “Wicked: For Good” New York Premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Cynthia Erivo
Cynthia Erivo at the “Wicked: For Good” New York Premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande at the “Wicked: For Good” New York Premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Jon M. Chu and Family
Jon M. Chu with wife Kristin Hodge and their five children at the premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Marc Platt and Jon M. Chu
Stars Ariana Grande and Michelle Yeoh with producer Marc Platt and director Jon M. Chu. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Ethan Slater
Ethan Slater at the “Wicked: For Good” New York Premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Marissa Bode
Marissa Bode at the “Wicked: For Good” New York Premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Colman Domingo
Colman Domingo at the “Wicked: For Good” New York Premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Paul Tazewell
Costume designer Paul Tazewell at the premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
David Nicksay
Executive producer David Nicksay at the premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Stephen Schwartz
Composer Stephen Schwartz at the premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Jeff Goldblum and Emilie Livingston
Jeff Goldblum and Emilie Livingston at the premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Bowen Yang
Bowen Yang at the “Wicked: For Good” New York Premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Scarlett Spears
Scarlett Spears at the premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Marc Malkin
Variety’s Marc Malkin at the “Wicked: For Good” New York Premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Karis Musongole and Cynthia Erivo
Karis Musongole and Cynthia Erivo at the premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Noah Galvin and Ben Platt
Noah Galvin and Ben Platt at the premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Auli’i Cravalho
Auli’i Cravalho at the premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Natasha Bedingfield
Natasha Bedingfield at the premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Gayle King and Nate Burleson
Gayle King and Nate Burleson at the premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Mellody Hobson and George Lucas
Mellody Hobson and George Lucas at the premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Nate Burleson and Family
Nate Burleson with Atoya Burleson and Mia Pearl Burleson. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Jane Krakowski and Jimmy Fallon
Jane Krakowski and Jimmy Fallon at the premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Ariana Grande and Scarlett Spears
Ariana Grande and Scarlett Spears at the premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Cesily Collette Taylor, Cynthia Erivo and Karis Musongole
The trio at the “Wicked: For Good” New York Premiere. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
As the lights dimmed at Lincoln Center and the cast took their final bows on the emerald carpet, one thing was clear: Universal is treating ‘Wicked: For Good’ like the full-blown event movie it is. With Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo earning raves out of the first film and early reactions already praising this finale as darker, grander, and more emotional, the Oz saga is poised to close on a high note. ‘Wicked: For Good’ flies into theaters November 21, and if this New York premiere is any indication, audiences are ready to be swept back to the Emerald City one last time.
Watch The Wicked: for You Trailer Below:
