TV/Film

It’s only two days past the 2025 Oscars, so some may think it’s too soon to start thinking about the 2026 Oscars. But it’s not too early to consider that history could be made: Wicked: For Good, the upcoming sequel to Wicked, could become the most nominated film sequel in Oscar history.
If it repeats its 10 nominations from this year and picks up two more, it would set a new record. If it picks one more, it would tie the record, which is currently jointly held by The Godfather Part II, which received 11 nods in 1975, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the third installment in that franchise, which received 11 nods in 2004.

Even if Wicked: For Good merely matched Wicked’s tally of 10 nods, it would become one of the most nominated sequels in history. It would tie Mad Max: Fury Road, the fourth installment in that franchise, which received 10 nods in 2015.

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Wicked’s 10 nominations this year were best picture, best actress (Cynthia Erivo), best supporting actress (Ariana Grande), best costume design, best film editing, best makeup and hairstyling, best production design, best original score, best sound and best visual effects.

There are three categories where Wicked: For Good could improve on its performance from this year. Jon M. Chu was passed over for a nod as best director for Wicked. A nomination for Wicked: For Good could serve to acknowledge his work on both films. Jonathan Bailey was passed over for a best supporting actor nod. And according to reports, there will be two new songs in Wicked: For Good, which would both be eligible for best original song consideration. None of the songs in Wicked were new, and thus, were not eligible.

One of the new songs will be for Elphaba, the character played by Erivo; the other will be for Glinda, the character played by Grande. Erivo will be a co-writer on her song, which could be her easiest path to her first Oscar — and EGOT status. Erivo has won a Tony, a Grammy, and a Daytime Emmy, all for The Color Purple and related projects, but has yet to win an Oscar, despite three nods so far.

If Erivo becomes an EGOT at the 2026 Oscars, she will become the youngest woman to EGOT. That title is currently held by Jennifer Hudson, who was 40 years and nine months old in 2022 when she achieved the feat. Erivo will be about 39 years and two months old at the time of the 2026 Oscars; the exact date of the show hasn’t been announced.

But Erivo would not become the youngest EGOT overall, which she would have become if she had won Sunday for best actress. That distinction has long been held by songwriter and librettist Robert Lopez, who was 39 years and one week old in 2014 when he achieved the feat. Songwriter and producer Benj Pasek was 39 years and two months old in 2024 when he joined the exclusive club.

Erivo was nominated for best original song in 2020 for co-writing “Stand Up” from Harriet. She was also nominated for best actress for that film.

Stephen Schwartz, of course, would also make history if a song from Wicked: For Good won an Oscar. Schwartz has won two Oscars for best original song — for “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas and “When You Believe” from The Prince of Egypt. A third win would make him one of just 10 songwriters in Oscar history to win three with three songs.

After Anora ended as the biggest winner of the 2025 Oscars — snagging five awards, including best picture and best actress — on Sunday, March 2, the stars left the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood to continue celebrating the year in cinema at the various post-Academy Awards parties around town. One of the biggest annual […]