Ozians successfully put aside their panic for one day — to celebrate the trailer launch of “Wicked: For Good.”
Universal, the studio behind the Broadway adaptation, has reported the first look at the second half of “Wicked” was viewed 113 million times in its first 24 hours. That’s above the first full trailer for last year’s “Wicked,” which had 75 million views over the same timeframe. Those massive numbers are similar to Greta Gerwig’s sensation “Barbie” and are higher than recent all-audience blockbusters like “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” “Mufasa: The Lion King” and “Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” according to the studio. For reference, Marvel’s “Deadpool and Wolverine” trailer holds the record for biggest trailer launch with 365 million views in 24 hours. Trailer views don’t necessarily correlate with box office dollars, but they’re a sign that audiences are excited to venture back down the yellow brick road.
The two-and-a-half-minute trailer treats audiences to a glimpse at Act Two’s splashy musical numbers, “No Good Deed” and “For Good,” the tear-jerker that gives the second film its name. The footage also features Glinda and Fiyero’s splashy wedding, those terrifying flying monkeys, as well as the iconic shot of Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion presenting themselves in front of the wonderful wizard.
Before the trailer debuted online, the studio unveiled the footage on Wednesday at special one-night screenings of “Wicked,” which returned to more than 100 North American theaters in anticipation of the second film. Universal began to drum up excitement a day earlier, releasing a teaser on Instagram in collaboration with Elphaba and Glinda themselves, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, as well as Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero), Michelle Yeoh (Madame Morrible) and Jeff Goldblum (The Wizard of Oz). The brief, 15-second video has been viewed 85 million times since Tuesday.
Set before, during and after the events of “The Wizard of Oz,” the upcoming “Wicked: For Good” chronicles the musical’s second act. After Elphaba and Glinda become best friends in the first film, their relationship is put to the test as they part ways and the Wicked Witch of the West is declared an enemy of the state by the Wizard.
“Wicked: Part One” generated $744 million globally to stand as the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation in history. In addition to box office riches, the musical adaptation was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including best picture, actress for Erivo and supporting actress for Grande. So, “Wicked: For Good” has a lot to live up to as the film flies into theaters on Nov. 22.
