Wicked: For Good is almost here, and a major change to one of the movie series’ main characters has already been revealed months ahead of the sequel’s release. The first Wicked was an incredibly faithful adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, and while the upcoming sequel will still be incredibly faithful, at least one character will be undergoing a lot of changes in the follow-up.

The first Wicked was one of the biggest movies of 2024, with it acting as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz franchise that follows Elphaba, the magical university student who eventually turns into the Wicked Witch of the West. Wicked received critical acclaim and was a box office hit, which was to be expected based on the popularity of the source material.

However, Wicked was not a complete story. The film only told the first act of the Broadway musical, leaving the second half for a sequel. Wicked: For Good will cover the second act of Wicked, bringing the story from the midpoint where Elphaba sings “Defying Gravity” all the way to the end of The Wizard of Oz story.

Wicked 2’s Nessarose Changes Can Improve Her Story & Arc

It Will Make Her Character Arc More Dynamic

Interestingly, Elphaba’s sister Nessarose will be changed in some interesting ways when compared to the original Broadway musical. At the end of the first Wicked, Nessarose’s father dies, setting her up to become the Eminent Thropp of Munchkinland. However, she becomes increasingly authoritarian as her rule continues.

In the Broadway play, Elphaba eventually visits Nessarose. When using her magic to fix Nessarose’s shoes, Nessarose is actually given the ability to walk. Up until this point, Nessarose used a wheelchair, with this plot point being controversial thanks to its real-world implications.

Luckily, Wicked: For Good has already announced that it will be changing this storyline. According to lyricist Stephen Schwartz, this change was made so that audiences weren’t under the impression that the lives of people with disabilities would be “solved” if their disability went away. So, this change is a way for Wicked: For Good “to be respectful and still find a way to tell our story.”

However, this isn’t the only change that Nessarose is getting. Schwartz also confirmed that a character who is romantically interested in Nessarose is being added to the film. However, Nessarose completely ignores him, illustrating how her obsession with Boq will eventually lead to things getting worse throughout the story of Wicked: For Good.