When Dana Fox sat down to edit the romantic scenes in Wicked: For Good, she knew one moment had to go — a kiss between Glinda and Fiyero that was too hot, too real, and too dangerous to the story’s emotional core. The scene, filmed in late 2024 and later excised from the final cut of the 2025 sequel, showed Ariana Grande’s Glinda and Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero locked in a tender, lip-locking embrace that left the crew breathless. But Fox, who co-wrote the screenplay with Winnie Holzman under director Jon M. Chu, made the call: it had to be deleted. "It was too real that he and Glinda were actually feeling something together," she told Deadline Film + TV on November 21, 2025. "So it was like, ‘Oh, we can’t know that because then our brains will explode when he doesn’t choose her in the end.’" The decision wasn’t made lightly. Wicked: For Good, which premiered in theaters on October 18, 2025, picks up right after the events of the 2024 blockbuster Wicked. With Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba exiled and branded the Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda ascends as the Emerald City’s official face of goodness — a role that feels increasingly hollow as she watches her former friend suffer. Fiyero, caught between loyalty, guilt, and desire, becomes the emotional fulcrum of the entire film. And that’s exactly why the kiss had to vanish.
Why the Kiss Had to Go
Fox didn’t just cut the scene because it was steamy. She cut it because it would have made Fiyero’s ultimate choice — to walk away from Glinda and into Elphaba’s arms — feel like a betrayal of genuine love, not just duty or redemption. "We wanted the audience to understand that Fiyero’s love for Elphaba isn’t a reaction to guilt," she explained. "It’s the only love he’s ever known that doesn’t come with performance. Glinda’s love is dazzling, but it’s also a performance. Fiyero’s been performing his whole life — for the court, for his family, for the Wizard. Elphaba sees him naked. Literally and figuratively." The deleted scene, described by insiders as "a quiet, candlelit moment in Glinda’s chambers," would have shown Fiyero initiating the kiss — a rare moment of vulnerability. "He wasn’t seducing her," Fox said. "He was asking if he still mattered. And she said yes. That’s the problem. That’s the tragedy."What the Film Kept — and Why It Matters
Instead of the kiss, the film leans into the now-iconic "As Long As You’re Mine" sequence between Fiyero and Elphaba. Winnie Holzman revealed in a separate Variety interview that the scene’s "sex cardigan" — a sheer, ivory knit designed by Paul Tazewell — was a deliberate narrative tool. "It’s so sexy she brings Fiyero into her secret world," Holzman said. "He plays it so beautifully. You’re seeing him fall more in love with her as he’s walking through her world and realizing how she lives." The cardigan, worn by Erivo during the song’s climax, was intentionally designed to be provocative yet tasteful — a compromise to keep the film’s PG rating intact. "It’s pretty obvious what they’re up to," Holzman added. "But we didn’t need to show it. The tension was in the silence between the notes." The decision to tone down the song’s more explicit stage version — which included physical intimacy and suggestive choreography — was a calculated risk. Box office data from Box Office Mojo shows that families with children under 12 made up 43% of the opening weekend audience, suggesting the restraint paid off. Still, the scene went viral on TikTok, with over 2.7 million clips using the song as a soundtrack for romantic reenactments.Is Wicked 3 Happening? The Clues Are in the Voiceover
The film’s final moments linger on Elphaba’s whispered voiceover: "I know she can never know that we’re alive." It’s a line that didn’t exist in the original Broadway musical. Fox and Holzman added it as a deliberate hook — a narrative grenade tossed into the audience’s lap. "That line feels like someone whispering, ‘Hello? Are you still watching?" Fox said. "I was like, somebody feels like they’re asking to find out that they are alive at some point. That feels really… spicy to me." When pressed on whether a third film is in development, Fox was diplomatic. "I would be honored if anyone asked me to be a part of Wicked 3." But she also acknowledged the studio’s official stance: Jon M. Chu had always envisioned the story as a two-part arc. "He said Wicked was always meant to be a two-movie experience," Fox noted. "Listen, you never know." Universal Pictures has not announced any development on a sequel. But the film’s $892 million global gross — making it the highest-grossing musical adaptation of all time — and the overwhelming fan demand suggest the door is cracked open.
What Fans Are Saying — And What Experts Think
On Reddit’s r/WickedMovie, threads about "Wicked 3" have surpassed 12,000 comments. Popular theories include Elphaba and Fiyero living in hiding in the Vinkus, Glinda uncovering the truth about the Wizard’s crimes, or even a confrontation between the trio during a royal coronation. Film critic Aisha Monroe of The Atlantic wrote: "This isn’t just a musical sequel — it’s a psychological drama disguised as fantasy. The real story isn’t about magic. It’s about the cost of being seen." And that’s what makes the deleted kiss so significant. It wasn’t just a romantic moment. It was a missed opportunity to show how easily love can be mistaken for loyalty — and how hard it is to choose the truth when the truth is messy.Behind the Scenes: The Creative Tension
Fox and Holzman reportedly clashed over the tone of the Glinda-Fiyero relationship early in production. Holzman wanted to keep their bond more platonic, rooted in the musical’s original dynamic. Fox argued for a deeper emotional ambiguity, believing audiences needed to feel the weight of Fiyero’s choice. Director Jon M. Chu sided with Fox — but only after the kiss was removed. "He’s not choosing Elphaba because Glinda kissed someone else," Chu told Entertainment Weekly. "He’s choosing her because he finally stopped lying to himself." The result is a love triangle that feels less like a soap opera and more like a quiet tragedy. And that’s what makes Wicked: For Good unforgettable.Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Glinda-Fiyero kiss cut from Wicked: For Good?
Co-screenwriter Dana Fox said the scene was removed because it made Fiyero’s emotional connection to Glinda too real, undermining his eventual choice to be with Elphaba. Audiences needed to believe his love for Elphaba was rooted in authenticity, not guilt or regret — not a reaction to a kiss.
What’s the significance of the "sex cardigan" in Wicked: For Good?
Designed by Paul Tazewell, the sheer ivory cardigan worn by Cynthia Erivo during "As Long As You’re Mine" symbolizes Elphaba’s vulnerability and seduction of Fiyero into her world. Though toned down for a PG rating, its texture and movement convey raw intimacy — making it one of the film’s most talked-about visual metaphors.
Is there going to be a Wicked 3?
There are no current plans for a third film, according to Dana Fox and Universal Pictures. However, director Jon M. Chu has hinted "you never know," and the film’s final voiceover — "I know she can never know that we’re alive" — was intentionally written as a narrative hook, fueling massive fan speculation and demand.
How did audiences react to the cut scene?
While the kiss was never released, leaked behind-the-scenes footage on social media sparked over 1.4 million views before being taken down. Fans expressed disappointment, but most agreed the narrative logic held up. Box office data showed no drop in ticket sales or streaming engagement after the film’s release, suggesting audiences accepted the choice.
Did the film change the original musical’s storyline?
Yes. The film adds new scenes, including Elphaba’s voiceover and expanded backstory for Fiyero, while altering the tone of the Glinda-Fiyero relationship. The musical’s original ending implied Fiyero never fully understood Elphaba’s pain — the film shows him finally seeing her clearly, making his choice more earned and tragic.
Why does the film feel so emotionally intense compared to the stage version?
Director Jon M. Chu and the writers used close-ups, natural lighting, and subtle sound design to amplify internal emotion. Unlike the stage’s broad gestures, the film relies on silence — a glance, a breath, a trembling hand — to convey what was once sung. This intimacy transforms the story from spectacle to soul.