Fans expected Oscar magic, but “Wicked: For Good” was completely shut out of the 2026 nominations — even in original song.
When the 2026 Oscar nominations were announced, many movie fans were waiting to hear Wicked: For Good called.
Instead, the highly anticipated sequel to Jon M. Chu’s blockbuster musical remake walked away with zero nominations — a surprise that left Hollywood buzzing.
The snub stings even more considering the first Wicked film had a strong showing at the 2025 Oscars, earning 10 nominations. Expectations were high that part two would continue that momentum, especially after a solid awards-season run elsewhere.
One of the biggest shocks came in the Best Original Song category. Legendary composer Stephen Schwartz wrote two brand-new songs specifically for Wicked: For Good: “The Girl in the Bubble,” sung by Ariana Grande, and “No Place Like Home,” performed by Cynthia Erivo.
Since the first film only featured songs from the stage musical, it wasn’t eligible for original song last year — making this sequel’s shutout even harder to understand.
Adding to the confusion, both Erivo and Grande received Golden Globe nominations earlier this year for their performances, and Schwartz’s songs were also recognized at the Globes. Many fans believed that momentum would carry over to the Oscars.
Wicked: For Good continues the emotional journey of Elphaba and Glinda, digging deeper into the complicated friendship that shaped the witches of Oz. Erivo returns as Elphaba, while Grande reprises her role as Glinda.
Director Jon M. Chu previously shared that both films were shot together over 160 days, with production briefly paused due to the industry strikes before wrapping up in early 2024.
The films are based on the beloved 2003 Broadway musical, which itself was inspired by Gregory Maguire’s bestselling novel. The screenplay was written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, with Schwartz adapting the music for the screen. Broadway icons Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth even made surprise cameos in the first movie.
While Oscar voters may have looked elsewhere this year, fans haven’t. On social media, many are calling the shutout one of the biggest awards-season surprises — and debating whether Wicked: For Good deserved a little more Academy love.
