No. There should not be any extra “Depraved” motion pictures. There’s your reply.
Sorry; I am going to again up. In case you’ve got been residing below a rock, Jon M. Chu’s second half of his “Depraved” adaptation, subtitled “For Good,” made a complete bunch of cash on the field workplace upon formally hitting theaters on November 21, 2025. Utilizing Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s Broadway musical as his supply materials, Chu — who introduced Schwartz and Holzman on board for “For Good” to jot down two new songs and assist pen the screenplay with Dana Fox, respectively — introduced the fantastical world of Oz again to the large display to share the story of Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), the verdant younger witch who finally turns into the Depraved Witch of the West. Now that “Depraved: Half One” and “Depraved: For Good” are confirmed field workplace juggernauts (and the primary one snagged 10 Oscar nominations, successful two for make-up and costume design), Common Photos reportedly desires to construct out the universe first created by Frank L. Baum in his Oz novels.
That is such an infuriating final result, and it is a horrible concept.
Common’s chief advertising officer, Michael Moses, was fairly blunt whereas chatting with Vulture in regards to the franchise’s future. “Due to ‘Depraved’s’ success but additionally the fanship, we’ve got virtually a accountability to determine how we will proceed on this universe,” he mentioned. “Have we figured it out but? No. However there are issues underway.” That is the worst potential method Moses and the Common crew may construct out the “Depraved” cinematic universe. Why? Effectively, Moses gave the sport away: it is in regards to the film’s monetary success, and in addition, there is no precise plan in place. It will lead to extra “Depraved” media, certain … but it surely in all probability will not be superb.
There may be supply materials for extra Depraved motion pictures, however regardless, it is a horrible concept
There’s “one thing dangerous” about this concept to both proceed the story of “Depraved” or set different tales on this universe, as even Stephen Schwartz appears hesitant to take part. “If there have been a proper concept, however I am simply undecided that that proper concept exists,” Schwartz instructed Rob LeDonne for The Ankler on the premiere of “Depraved: For Good.” Sadly, although, Schwartz stored speaking:
“What I’ll let you know, with out making a gift of an excessive amount of, is that Winnie Holzman and I are performing some work proper now on concepts that are not a sequel to ‘Depraved,’ as a result of I feel the Glinda and Elphaba story feels full — however there are different features that may very well be explored. Gregory Maguire, the unique ‘Depraved’ novelist, has a number of books, for instance. However there’s one other concept that Winnie and I are discussing: not a sequel, however an adjunct. Let me put it that method.”
Schwartz, to his credit score, is not flawed. Gregory Maguire, as he famous, has written a bunch of sequels to his 1995 origin story “Depraved: The Life and Instances of the Depraved Witch of the West,” together with “Son of a Witch” (which facilities round Elphaba’s son Liir, who’s not in Jon M. Chu’s motion pictures or the stage musical) and follow-up novels in regards to the experiences of the Cowardly Lion (“A Lion Amongst Males”) and Elphaba’s granddaughter Rain (“Out of Oz”). Frank L. Baum additionally wrote a complete host of books set in “Oz,” so I guess Common may simply throw a dart at a type of and adapt whichever one it hits. My concern, although, is {that a} future “Depraved” challenge below the Common umbrella shall be authentic, and I actually, actually do not assume the world wants that.
The worst case situation for a Depraved franchise is, frankly, one created from entire material
Spoilers for “Depraved: For Good” forward.
I truthfully cannot think about something — and I imply this with the utmost respect to Stephen Schwartz, Winnie Holzman, and Dana Fox — worse than a “Depraved” movie franchise that makes use of the primary two motion pictures as a jumping-off level and would not dip into any pre-established supply materials. (Once more, I do not assume the franchise ought to proceed regardless, however I am specializing in the more severe of two evils right here.) The story that Jon M. Chu presents in each “Depraved” movies is 2 issues: it’s miles too lengthy, and it is also blessedly full. On the finish of “Depraved: For Good,” after Elphaba fakes her demise and leaves her finest buddy Glinda the Good Witch (Ariana Grande-Butera) behind to avoid wasting Oz’s future, Glinda, who hasn’t beforehand possessed any magical powers, immediately sees the magic ebook generally known as the Grimmerie open for her (because it all the time did for Elphaba, a decidedly highly effective witch). Whether or not because of this Glinda primarily took on a few of Elphaba’s powers attributable to their bond or all the time had magical powers that had been woke up by Elphaba is debatable. What’s not debatable — not with me, at the least — is that that is the top of the story.
Not solely do I wish to see Grande-Butera pursue different appearing alternatives (she’s superb within the “Depraved” motion pictures, even when the movies do not rise to her degree), however the continuation of the story offered in these motion pictures simply … would not exist. If there was a 3rd movie that adopted the occasions of the primary two, it might find yourself repeating the identical plot beats; there is no Liir or Thropp household line to proceed the story. Let sleeping witches lie, and let “Depraved” conclude, Common. I am begging you.
