Wicked Live Musical Special Starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande Set for NBC in Fall 2025

Los Angeles, California — A highly anticipated live musical event, “Wicked: For Good,” is slated to premiere on NBC in the latter part of fall 2025, featuring acclaimed stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The announcement, a significant highlight for fans of the popular musical, was made by director Jon M Chu during NBCUniversal’s recent upfront presentation, signaling a major television event tied to the enduring cultural phenomenon.

Details of the Live Special

The broadcast event, titled “Wicked: For Good,” is scheduled to take place live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. This special offers a unique opportunity for audiences nationwide to experience elements of the beloved Broadway story through a dedicated television production. Following its live airing on NBC, the special will be available for next-day streaming on the Peacock platform, ensuring accessibility for viewers across various time zones and preferences.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who are also set to star as Elphaba and Glinda respectively in the upcoming two-part film adaptation of “Wicked,” will headline this live special. Their participation in the television event further solidifies their central roles in bringing the iconic musical story to a broader audience in various formats.

Context from the Upfront Presentation

The announcement of the live “Wicked” special was a key moment during NBCUniversal’s upfront presentation, which showcased upcoming programming across its network and streaming services. During the presentation, Jon M Chu highlighted the event as a significant addition to the fall 2025 schedule.

The presentation also touched upon the performance and reception of other recent content, offering context for NBCUniversal’s programming strategy. Among the review scores cited for various projects were ‘F1: The Movie’ achieving 92%, M3GAN 2.0 with 80%, and ‘Ironheart’ also registering 80%. Other highlighted content included ‘Bride Hard’ at 60%, ‘Everything’s Going to be Great,’ which garnered an 82% in its Tribeca review, and KPop Demon Hunters receiving a perfect 100%. Additional scores presented were ’28 Years Later’ at 73%, Black Butler -Emerald Witch Arc- Ep. 9 at 100%, Pixar’s Elio at 75%, and We Were Liars also at 75%. These figures provided a snapshot of the critical and audience reception across a diverse slate of NBCUniversal projects.

“Wicked”‘s Enduring Popularity and Theatrical Success

The planned live special arrives as the “Wicked” musical continues to demonstrate significant cultural impact, underscored by the impressive performance of the recent theatrical film adaptation. The movie achieved a remarkable milestone, securing the Biggest Opening Weekend for a Broadway Adaptation with an initial box office take of $163 million. This figure notably exceeded the previous record held by “Les Misérables,” which opened to $103 million.

Furthermore, the “Wicked” theatrical release marked the 6th Biggest Opening Weekend of 2024, highlighting its strong performance within the competitive film market. The film has also resonated positively with both critics and audiences, holding a Certified Fresh rating of 90% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, complemented by a robust 97% audience score on the same platform. Its reception was further validated by an A CinemaScore, indicating widespread positive sentiment among moviegoers surveyed on opening night.

The live special on NBC, featuring the stars of the successful film adaptation, is expected to capitalize on this momentum and bring the magic of “Wicked” to a massive television audience, bridging the gap between the stage, the silver screen, and home entertainment. Its broadcast from a major Los Angeles venue and subsequent streaming availability underscore its significance as a tentpole event for NBCUniversal in the upcoming fall season.