The director of Wicked: For Good shared why the trailer hasn’t been released yet. This movie, directed by Jon M. Chu, is a follow-up to his hit film Wicked. The first movie told the Wicked Witch of the West’s origin story, based on the Broadway musical’s first act. The sequel will wrap up the story, showing how Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande-Butera) grow apart. Many expected the trailer to drop during the Super Bowl on February 9, but that didn’t happen.
At the 2025 Writer’s Guild of America Awards, where Wicked was up for Best Adapted Screenplay, ScreenRant’s Joe Deckelmeier spoke with Jon M. Chu on the red carpet. When asked about the trailer for Wicked: For Good, Chu didn’t give a release date. However, he explained that it wasn’t shown at the Super Bowl because they faced “technical difficulties” with the visual effects. He assured fans that “a lot” of exciting updates are on the way.
I can’t say when we’re getting the trailer. [Laughs] All I can say is that, in order for me to have gotten a trailer for the Super Bowl, I would’ve had to turn over visual effects to be done by now so many months ago when we were still in the middle of edits. There were technical difficulties that prevented us, but we have a lot coming out, so stay tuned. I can’t say anything else, though!
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Many thought the trailer for Wicked: For Good would premiere during the Super Bowl because the first movie’s trailer aired during Super Bowl LVIII in 2024. However, besides the fact that the editing wasn’t ready, there’s likely another reason for the delay. The 2024 movie is still a big topic in pop culture. It’s almost done with its theatrical run but is still in the spotlight during the 2024-2025 awards season.
Wicked has earned 10 Oscar nominations for 2025, including Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Picture. The team likely held back the sequel’s trailer to keep the focus on the first movie while Oscar voting continued until February 18. Releasing the trailer too soon might have reminded voters that another Wicked movie is on the way, making them consider other films instead.
The first teaser for Wicked: For Good will likely drop during the 97th Academy Awards on March 2. Even if most of the movie’s visual effects aren’t finished, the teaser might only feature a short part of a song (probably the title track) and a few completed scenes. Releasing it then would be a smart move, allowing the sequel to benefit from the first movie’s awards season buzz instead of taking attention away from it.