Dancing With the Stars season 34 honored the world of Wicked with some incredible performances — and a brand new sneak peek at what’s to come in For Good.
During the Tuesday, October 21, episode of the ABC dance competition series, director Jon M. Chu revealed a glimpse at the upcoming film, which featured The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) explaining how he became popular in Oz. He, along with some help from Glinda (Ariana Grande), sang “Wonderful” to Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), promising they can make her “wonderful” too.
Part 1 of Wicked’s two-part movie adaptation was released in November 2024 and followed the first act of the iconic Broadway show that shares the backstory of Glinda and Elphaba before the events of The Wizard of Oz.
While the first film ended with Glinda and Elphaba parting ways before Elphaba fled Shiz University, part two will pick up a few years later with Elphaba, now the Wicked Witch of the West, continuing her plans to help the land’s animals when Glinda rises to power as the Wizard’s spokeswoman.
“What’s wonderful about the show is that you get an insight into why this woman becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, but you have only three hours to do it in,” Erivo, 38, told Entertainment Weekly in February about why Wicked was split into separate parts. “With us, you have two movies.”
She noted that Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship has also been “expanded” thanks to the extra time, adding, “That’s a really important, special thing that you have in the show, but here you really get to go with them in that. We’ve got something really special.”
For Good will also reveal how Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion came together. Ethan Slater, who portrayed Boq in the first movie, gave a sneak peek of his character’s transformation into Tin Man earlier this month, while For Good’s trailer has shared brief glimpses at Fieryo’s (Jonathan Bailey) Scarecrow look. The actress portraying Dorothy remains under wraps, but it was revealed earlier this week that Colman Domingo will be voicing the Cowardly Lion.
Ahead of Domingo’s reveal, Chu teased he had cast a major A-lister in the role after sliding into their DMs. “I was like, ‘It’s not a ton of lines, but maybe you have a little time. I know you’re busy. I’ll come to you,’” the filmmaker recalled to Deadline in an October 16 interview. “He was like, ‘Why the f*** not, let’s go!’ And then we went ahead and recorded the lines.”
Songs from both Wicked and Wicked: For Good were featured on Tuesday’s episode of Dancing With the Stars, from Robert Irwin and Witney Caron’s jazz performance of “Dancing Through Life” to Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas’ quickstep to “Popular.”
Grande and Erivo also made video cameos throughout the night alongside Bailey and Michelle Yeoh, who portrays Madame Morrible in the films. Chu also served as guest judge for the week.
“Wicked is a beloved tale of two best friends who change each other’s lives for good,” Erivo said, while Grande added, “So rejoicify! Let’s kick off this special Wicked celebration with a speculator opening number created by our wonderful choreographer Chris Scott.”
Chu also shared his excitement over being in the ballroom at the start of the evening.
“It’s my favorite movie and my favorite TV show combined, this is going to be incredible,” Chu said at the top of the episode. “But anything you know about dance, the power of it, it’s not the technical ultimately. When you get over that, you guys have been rehearsing great, now it’s about telling the story. Fill us with all the feelings today.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Wicked: For Good hits theaters on November 21.
