The highly anticipated New York City premiere of "Wicked: For Good" was marked by the notable absence of its leading stars, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, from scheduled interviews. Universal representatives informed media outlets just hours before the event at Lincoln Center that Erivo was unwell and had lost her voice. In a gesture of solidarity, Ariana Grande chose to skip interviews as well, though both stars were still present to pose for photographs on the red carpet.

"Wicked: For Good," the follow-up to last year’s "Wicked," is set to adapt the second and final act of the beloved Broadway musical. The film is slated for release in theaters on Friday, November 21, concluding the duology's story precisely where the stage show's narrative ends. As such, there are currently no expectations for a third film in the "Wicked" universe.

Discussions regarding the potential for a third installment were addressed by key figures involved with the production. Bowen Yang, who stars in the film and is also known for "Saturday Night Live," expressed his belief that the series has reached its natural conclusion. "I think we leave it here," Yang told Variety, though he light-heartedly entertained the prospect of a spinoff featuring his and Bronwyn James’ characters, Pfannee and ShenShen, in a "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead" style story. Director Jon M. Chu also offered a tentative response when questioned about a third film, asking, "What’s it about? ... We’ll see. Let’s enjoy this ride first."

The New York premiere was attended by a stellar cast, including Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Colman Domingo, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum, alongside director Jon M. Chu. However, the event was another in a series of unexpected hiccups that have affected the "Wicked: For Good" world promotional tour. Previously, Ariana Grande was unable to attend the first premiere in São Paulo, Brazil, on November 4 due to airplane mechanical issues. Just last week, Grande was involved in an incident in Singapore where a man jumped over barricades onto the carpet and grabbed her, with Cynthia Erivo quickly intervening to push the man away from her co-star.

Reflecting on their shared journey, Cynthia Erivo spoke about the challenges during a conversation moderated by Variety's Clayton Davis, stating, "We have come through some shit. I mean, fuck even this last week, let’s be honest." Despite these obstacles, Erivo and Grande were seen together at the Governors Awards in Los Angeles the night prior to the premiere, where Erivo presented Debbie Allen with an honorary Oscar, and Grande spoke with members of the press, including Variety.

Bowen Yang also shared his enthusiasm for Ariana Grande's upcoming return to "Saturday Night Live" in December as a host, with Cher as the musical guest. Yang expressed his excitement about Cher's presence, calling her his "dream host," and noted Grande's talent for Cher impressions. He even pitched a "Cher Family Reunion" sketch for the Christmas season, where everyone would showcase their Cher impressions.

The first "Wicked" movie, released a year prior, achieved significant success, earning over $746 million in worldwide ticket sales and securing 10 Oscar nominations, including acting nods for Grande and Erivo, as well as one for Best Picture. "Wicked: For Good" continues the narrative with Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) furthering her Wicked Witch of the West crusade to bring down the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), while Glinda’s (Ariana Grande) popularity soars as she prepares for marriage to Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey).