Oz Beyond the Emerald City: More Wicked Tales Brewing!

The phenomenal success of "Wicked: For Good" at the box office has prompted Universal Pictures to initiate plans for expanding the beloved franchise. Studio executives have confirmed that efforts are actively underway to continue telling stories set in the Land of Oz, though the specific format, whether film or television, is yet to be determined.

The desire to build upon the immense popularity and dedicated fanbase of "Wicked" is a key driver for this expansion. This move aligns with revelations from the original musical's composer, Stephen Schwartz, who, along with book writer Winnie Holzman, is discussing "adjunct" story ideas that explore different facets of the "Wicked" universe.

While the original narrative of Elphaba and Glinda is considered complete by Schwartz, the extensive literary foundation laid by author Gregory Maguire, including prequel and sequel novels, offers a rich source of material. The recent films have already achieved remarkable financial success, grossing $223 million worldwide in their opening weekend and are projected to surpass $1 billion, solidifying the franchise's commercial appeal.