“ Wicked: Part Two’s” official title, “Wicked: For Good,” prompted some mixed reactions online when it was first revealed in December. Director Jon M. Chu, however, believes the title of the second installment has certainly been changed for the better.

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Cynthia Erivo, left, and Ariana Grande in a scene from the film "Wicked." The movie was released in theaters on Nov. 22, 2024, and became available to stream on Apple TV+ on Dec. 31. AP The blockbuster film “Wicked” debuted in theaters on Nov. 22, 2024.

Contemplating making "Wicked" amid the pandemic, director Jon M. Chu found powerful meaning in Elphaba’s words: “Something has changed within me, something's not the same.”