With just five months to go until the highly anticipated second film hits theaters on November 21, 2025, the original composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz reveals he's "still working away every day" on the score for Wicked: For Good.

Schwartz, who won a Grammy for his work on the musical, admits his deadline is "very soon." He shared the update at the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where he was honored with the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award.

"This is crunch month, 'cause we record in London next month, in July," Schwartz explained. "But, you know, movies keep changing, they keep being re-edited, so then the music has to change."

Schwartz, who has been working on the music and lyrics for Wicked alongside script writer Winnie Holzman since the initial Broadway premiere in 2003, couldn't be more thrilled about the show's enduring popularity.

"It's just amazing to have a show that opened 22 years ago and is still there," he said. "When I first started, if a show ran 5 years, it was miraculous."

Wicked: For Good is expected to feature two new songs, including one for the character of Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, and another for Glinda, played by Ariana Grande.

The first Wicked film, released in November 2024, grossed over $756 million worldwide and won several accolades, including the Academy Awards for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.

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