Wicked Timeline: How the Movies, Musical & Oz Lore Fit Together

The Wicked universe can be confusing. There are Gregory Maguire’s novels, the Broadway musical, the two-part movie adaptation, and the classic Wizard of Oz film — and they don’t all line up perfectly.

This guide is meant to be a simple Wicked timeline that shows how the major versions fit together, and where there’s still open story space that could, in theory, support a Wicked 3.

The Short Version: How Many Wicked Movies Are There?

Right now, there are two Wicked movies planned as a complete adaptation of the stage musical:

• Wicked (Part One) – introducing Elphaba and Glinda, their time at school, and the rise of the “Wicked Witch.”
• Wicked: For Good (Part Two) – completing the story and bringing the musical’s major plotlines to a close.

There is no officially announced third movie at this time. All talk of a “Wicked 3” is fan speculation — which is exactly what we track on wicked3.com.

Timeline of the Wicked Movies (Story Order)

Both films are prequels, sidequels, and reframings of the Oz story you might know from childhood. In broad strokes, the movie timeline looks like this:

• Young Elphaba grows up dealing with prejudice and expectations she never asked for.
• Elphaba and Glinda meet at school and move from enemies to unlikely friends.
• They’re drawn into politics, spectacle, and the Wizard’s carefully staged version of reality.
• Elphaba becomes branded as “wicked” while trying to do what she believes is right.
• Glinda is pushed into the role of the shining public figure Oz wants her to be.
• The second film carries those choices through to their emotional and political consequences.

Different versions of the story emphasize different details, but the core is always the same: how two women respond when a broken system asks them to either uphold it or burn it down.

Where the Broadway Musical Fits

The Broadway show is the backbone of the entire Wicked phenomenon. The films are essentially a two-part reimagining of that stage production — not a separate sequel or spin-off.

Think of it like this:

• The novel is a darker, more sprawling source of ideas and themes.
• The musical takes those ideas and shapes them into a tight, emotional two-act show.
• The movies stretch that show back out, keeping its heart while reworking pacing, visuals, and some details for film.

If you’ve seen the musical, you already know the rough outline of both movies, including the ultimate fate of Elphaba and Glinda. What the films add is visual texture, world-building, and extra breathing room for certain moments.

How This Connects to the Classic Wizard of Oz

The Wicked story is set mostly before and around the events of the classic Wizard of Oz film, but it assumes that the “official” story we all grew up with is incomplete and biased.

In a loose sense, the timeline looks like this:

• Life in Oz before Dorothy arrives.
• Elphaba and Glinda’s school years and rise to public attention.
• The political and social unraveling that leads to the infamous “Wicked Witch.”
• Dorothy’s arrival and the events we think we know — seen now in a very different light.

Wicked doesn’t overwrite the old story so much as stand beside it, pointing out all the angles the original never showed.

What Parts of the Timeline Are Still “Open”?

This is where things get interesting for Wicked 3 speculation. Even with two full movies, there are chunks of the Oz timeline that remain relatively untouched on screen:

• The early political history of Oz before the Wizard arrives.
• Life across different regions of Oz that we only visit briefly.
• What happens in the years after the truth about the “Wicked Witch” comes out.
• Stories told from the perspective of ordinary citizens, not just key figures.

Any of those spaces could, in theory, support a new story without undoing anything the existing films establish.

Where a Possible Wicked 3 Could Fit

If a third movie ever happened, it would have a few choices:

• A direct continuation of the existing films, following Glinda’s leadership and the long-term impact on Oz.
• A side story that takes place during or between familiar events, focusing on different characters.
• A forward jump that looks at Oz decades later, once the legends have settled and turned into myths.

None of these are guaranteed — they’re just the cleanest “hook points” that don’t break the existing timeline. Our Wicked 3 status article goes deeper on what would need to be true behind the scenes for any of this to actually get made.

Suggested Watch/Read Order for New Fans

If you’re just entering the Wicked universe and want a simple path, here’s an easy, spoiler-respectful order:

1. Watch the first Wicked movie.
2. Watch Wicked: For Good to complete the story.
3. Listen to the Broadway cast album to catch musical details that didn’t all fit into the films.
4. Optional: read Gregory Maguire’s novel if you want a darker, more political spin.
5. Rewatch key scenes with all of that context in mind.

Along the way, you can use this timeline article as a reference when you’re trying to remember which version did what.

Where to Go Next

If you want:

• Official-status talk about whether a third movie is happening, read Will There Be a Wicked 3?
• A closer look at sequel potential specifically in the second film’s finale, read Wicked: For Good Ending Explained.

And of course, the front page at wicked3.com will keep adding more deep dives, timelines, and theory round-ups as the conversation evolves.