Universal, the studio behind the Broadway adaptation, announced that the trailer for the second part of Wicked was viewed 113 million times in its first 24 hours. This number beats the first full trailer for last year’s Wicked, which had 75 million views in the same timeframe. These huge view counts are on par with hits like Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and are even higher than recent family-friendly blockbusters such as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Mufasa: The Lion King, and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. For comparison, the record for the biggest trailer launch is held by Marvel’s Deadpool and Wolverine trailer, which had 365 million views in 24 hours. While trailer views don’t always predict box office success, they do show strong audience excitement.
The two-and-a-half-minute trailer offers a sneak peek at the musical numbers in Act Two, including “No Good Deed” and “For Good,” the emotional song that inspired the sequel’s title. It also shows Glinda and Fiyero’s lavish wedding, the frightening flying monkeys, and the iconic moment when Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion meet the Wizard of Oz.
Before the trailer was released online, the studio held special one-night screenings of Wicked in over 100 North American theaters to build anticipation for the sequel. The excitement began a day earlier with a teaser on Instagram featuring the film’s stars: Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba), Ariana Grande (Glinda), Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero), Michelle Yeoh (Madame Morrible), and Jeff Goldblum (The Wizard of Oz). This short 15-second teaser has been viewed 85 million times since its release.
Wicked: For Good is set before, during, and after the events of The Wizard of Oz. It follows the second act of the musical, where Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship faces challenges after they go separate ways and the Wicked Witch of the West is declared an enemy by the Wizard.
The first film, Wicked: Part One, earned $744 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation ever. It also received 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Erivo, and Best Supporting Actress for Grande. With those high expectations, Wicked: For Good is set to hit theaters on November 22.
Related topics:
