The live NBC special will debut in November ahead of the premiere of sequel Wicked: For Good
NBC will air a live Wicked special on Nov. 6. The two-hour special will be taped at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theater and will feature the film’s stars, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, as well as special guests, performing songs from the first movie.
As the special is set to arrive two weeks before the premiere of sequel Wicked: For Good it’s only natural to assume the actors will also showcase new songs. A press release from NBCUniversal says to expect “maybe, just maybe, a little bit from the upcoming film.”
The program, originally announced in May, will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. on Nov. 6. It will then stream on Peacock beginning on Nov. 7.
Wicked: For Good is due to hit theaters on Nov. 21. The film will pick up immediately after the events of the last year’s blockbuster smash, which concluded with Erivo’s rendition of “Defying Gravity.” While “Defying Gravity” is arguably the signature song from the original Wicked musical, For Good will feature plenty of Act Two show-stoppers, including the Elphaba and Glinda duet that gives the sequel its name. Other famous songs include Elphaba’s “No Good Deed” and Elphaba and Fiyero’s duet “As Long as You’re Mine.”
For Good will also feature two new songs for Glinda and Elphaba, with Grande and Erivo both working alongside the musical’s original composer Stephen Schwartz. In an interview with Variety last year, Erivo called her tune “so special to me,” adding, “When we filmed it, the entire crew was in tears. I hope audiences are ready — it’s a song that speaks to the heart of who Elphaba is.”
In an interview earlier this year, Grande said Glinda’s new song coincides with a “pivotal moment” in her journey. “It shows a side of her we’ve never seen before. In the stage show, this transformation happens offstage. But in the movie, we get to see her make the decision that defines who she is. It’s a privilege to sing this song and be the first Glinda to bring it to life.”
