Universal Pictures' highly anticipated musical fantasy, "Wicked: For Good," has achieved a significant milestone even before its theatrical debut, becoming Fandango's biggest first-day ticket preseller of 2025. Tickets for the film went live on October 8, 2025, and by the following day, advance sales had already surpassed other major titles like "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle," "Superman," and "Taylor Swift's The Official Release Party of a Showgirl." Furthermore, "Wicked: For Good" now holds the record as the highest PG-rated ticket seller on the platform, outperforming previous musical hits such as "Frozen 2," "Beauty and the Beast," and even its predecessor, "Wicked."

To capitalize on the strong demand and incentivize early buyers, Universal has introduced a special Collector’s Pack. This exclusive offering pairs a limited-edition 24" x 12" sketch poster, showcasing Paul Tazewell’s costume design, with a ticket to the film. In addition to these marketing efforts, a charity initiative is also tied to the rollout: audiences can use Fandango’s Round-Up feature to round up their ticket purchase to the nearest dollar, with the additional amount being donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

As "Wicked: For Good's" record-breaking pre-sales continue to build momentum, director Jon M. Chu has shared insights into what audiences can expect from the sequel. The upcoming chapter will delve into the consequences of the pivotal choices made by Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) at the conclusion of the first film, picking up after their heartbreaking farewell. Chu explained that while the first movie established a "fairy tale" world, the sequel will explore "reality." He stated, "Movie one was about this fairytale, was about the things that we’re taught by watching movies, or reading books, or what our parents taught us when we’re young. That’s a great thing you have on a calendar, what you tweet out, or what you have on a t-shirt, or... but that’s not reality. Movie two is reality. Movie two is what happens after." The original story depicted Elphaba and Glinda forming an unlikely college friendship, which later fractured due to conflicting loyalties and a confrontation with the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum).

Variety will host an exclusive, star-filled "On the Carpet" event, presented by Lexus, at the Universal Pictures’ “Wicked: For Good” premiere in New York City. This special event aims to bring fans, industry insiders, and the global "Wicked" community closer to the epic conclusion of the cinematic phenomenon. Hosted by Variety’s senior culture & events editor Marc Malkin, "On the Carpet Live" will feature real-time interviews with the stars, creative team, and special guests as they arrive. Viewers can anticipate a dynamic mix of breaking news, candid conversations, behind-the-scenes insights, and unforgettable red-carpet moments, further expanding the "Wicked" universe. The broader "Wicked" phenomenon became a worldwide cultural sensation, with its film adaptation (referring to the first part of this cinematic story, or the broader franchise) shattering box-office records and earning numerous accolades, setting a high bar for this finale.

In celebration of the partnership, Lexus is pulling back the curtain on a spellbinding character-themed custom-wrapped LX, inspired by the film’s iconic witches of Oz. Lisa McQueen, senior manager, Lexus Marketing, highlighted the "Wicked: For Good" Karaoke LX, inviting fans to 'Experience OZmazing' and unleash their inner star by singing along to "Wicked's" beloved anthems. Variety’s real-time coverage will offer an exclusive look at the stars’ excitement and the creative team’s vision for the emotional finale of this beloved story.

Audiences can tune in to the special coverage presented by Lexus on November 17 at 3:10 p.m. PT on Variety’s YouTube channel for an unforgettable evening, as "Wicked: For Good" makes its highly anticipated arrival in theaters.