‘Wicked: For Good’ New York Premiere Brings Emerald City Glamour to Lincoln Center
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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.
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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.
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Wicked: For Good — NY premiere
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:
![ANEMONE - Official Trailer 2 [HD] - Only in Theaters October 3](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uS7DHGFXkNY/hqdefault.jpg)
