Thoughts about where the new songs will be placed in the second film. (Spoilers for Act 2)
We have recently been provided substantiated information about the two new songs, one for Elphaba and the other for Glinda, in "Wicked: For Good" from two Variety articles:
Elphaba's new song:
https://variety.com/2024/film/podcasts/cynthia-erivo-wicked-2-original-song-debut-album-1236258259/
Glinda's new song:
https://variety.com/2025/film/awards/ariana-grande-wicked-2-original-song-eternal-sunshine-deluxe-release-1236271770/
The following is a very brief summary on the two new songs:
Elphaba's new song:
- Meant to reveal to the audience what kind of person Elphaba truly is deep down.
- Made the film crew in tears
Glinda's new song:
- Takes place during a pivotal moment in Glinda's journey
- Takes place during a transformation of Glinda that only happens offstage in the stage production
Having read both articles, here are my thoughts about where these songs will be placed in "Wicked: For Good":
Elphaba's new song:
Based on Cynthia Erivo's remarks, it appears that Elphaba's new song is very likely a tearjerker- a song that is meant to evoke strong sympathy or empathy from the audience towards Elphaba. This makes me think that this song will not be positioned near the end of the movie, for the fear that it could upstage the tearjerker song - "For Good".
Another thing to consider when thinking about where to position a song is the lead-up to it. In this particular case, whatever leads to this song must be something very personal to Elphaba.
In short, I think this song takes place in a situation that is painful and personal to Elphaba and that situation occurred sometime before the battle at Kiamo Ko. Based on what we know about Act 2 of the stage production, we only have two events that matches the aforementioned criteria: The death of Nessarose and the "death" of Fiyero. Since a song has already been given to Elphaba with regards to Fiyero's "death" i.e. "No Good Deed", I think I am more likely right than wrong to argue that Elphaba's new song will be about her grieving Nessarose's death. Furthermore, with the movie's expansion of Elphaba's relationship with Nessarose, simply having Elphaba grieving Nessarose through a few spoken lines alone like the stage production would not be a satisfactory conclusion to that expanded relationship.
Glinda's new song:
The part that I find the least well-explained in Act 2 of the stage production is how Glinda ended up in Kiamo Ko after furiously leaving Madame Morrible during "March of the Witch Hunters". I have always wanted to know what was really on Glinda's mind that made her leave Madame Morrible and look for Elphaba, as she was at what I think is the most interesting and crucial part of her character arc, namely the conflict between her public and private personas was at its climax and could no longer be ignored. Hence, an emotionally broken Glinda choosing to deal with this inner conflict head-on for the first time ever, as well as trying to actually resolve that conflict, is a plot progression which I think is worth exploring more in the movie, perhaps in the form of a new song.
Since the notion of Glinda beginning to question the feasibility of maintaining separate personas is a form of character transformation and does not appear onstage in the stage production, it is a notion that I think does not contradict Ariana Grande's remarks. Therefore, I feel confident arguing that Glinda's new song will be placed between her leaving Madame Morrible during "March of the Witch Hunters" and her reunion with Elphaba in Kiamo Ko.