"Wicked: For Good," the anticipated cinematic follow-up to the 2003 stage musical, did not secure any nominations for the 2026 Academy Awards. This outcome arrived despite its predecessor, "Wicked," garnering significant attention with ten nominations at the 2025 ceremony. The sequel, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, and featuring new compositions by Stephen Schwartz, had previously received recognition at the Golden Globes, making its complete absence from the Oscar shortlists a notable surprise within the industry.
The film, which serves as the second installment in Jon M. Chu's adaptation of the beloved "Wicked" narrative, faced a surprising shutout across all categories. Particularly unexpected was its exclusion from the Best Original Song category. Composer Stephen Schwartz, renowned for his work on the original stage production, had penned two new tracks specifically for "Wicked: For Good": "The Girl in the Bubble," performed by Ariana Grande, and "No Place Like Home," sung by Cynthia Erivo. These songs had even earned nominations at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards earlier in the year, highlighting the discrepancy between the two major award ceremonies' recognition of the film's musical contributions.
The first "Wicked" film, released in 2024, was ineligible for the Best Original Song Oscar at the 2025 Academy Awards because its soundtrack exclusively featured pre-existing songs from the stage musical. With the inclusion of brand-new compositions, "Wicked: For Good" was widely considered a strong contender for this specific category in 2026. However, the Academy's voters ultimately passed over these new additions, leaving the film without any nods.
Cynthia Erivo portrays Elphaba, famously known as the Wicked Witch of the West, while Ariana Grande takes on the role of Galinda, or Glinda the Good Witch. "Wicked: For Good" delves deeper into the intricate origins of these iconic Oz witches, continuing the story initiated by the 2024 film. Director Jon M. Chu had previously shared insights into the ambitious production, revealing that both movies were filmed concurrently over 160 days. Production was briefly halted just ten days before completion due to unforeseen circumstances, specifically impacting key scenes such as "Defying Gravity" and other flying sequences. The team successfully wrapped up the remaining production days at the start of 2024.
The cinematic adaptations draw their inspiration from Gregory Maguire's best-selling novel, which was then transformed into the highly successful 2003 musical. Winnie Holzman, who authored the book for the stage production, collaborated with Dana Fox on the screenplay for Chu's films. Stephen Schwartz himself adapted the musical numbers for the big screen. Broadway luminaries Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, on stage and even made cameo appearances in the first film's "One Short Day" segment, much to the delight of fans.
The absence of "Wicked: For Good" from the 2026 Oscar nominations marks a significant oversight for a film that had generated considerable buzz and featured acclaimed performances and new musical numbers. The entertainment world will now turn its attention to the reasons behind this decision and the implications for future musical adaptations vying for Academy recognition.
