At the HCA’s Astra Film Awards, we caught up with Wicked editor Myron Kerstein to talk all things Wicked — from adapting the beloved Broadway musical to the possibility of returning to Oz in future films.
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The film, of course, is an adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Wicked, which premiered in 2003. The musical itself was based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. While Wicked and Wicked: For Good adapt the story told in the musical, the novel series actually spans multiple books, collectively known as The Wicked Years, leaving fans wondering if there’s more to explore on screen.
Naturally, we had to ask: Is there a chance we could return to Oz?
“Never say never,” Kerstein told us. “I think what’s nice about working on films for a studio like Universal is that you get to give it to the world and say, ‘This is part of the Universal legacy.’ And if they want to make more stories with these characters and revisit Oz, I’m all for it.”
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Kerstein also spoke about editing two films that are tonally very different from one another. He explained that from the start, he knew each film needed its own emotional identity.
“I had to embrace that the first one was an origin story and the second one was a tragedy,” he explained. “After making Wicked, I couldn’t do the same thing with For Good. It needed to be treated with the emotion it deserved.”
When asked about the first time he heard Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande perform, Kerstein reflected on how powerful the experience was and how deeply the music resonates with audiences.
“It was incredible. It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. From test screenings to the premieres, feeling the energy in the room and how much these characters, these stories, and these songs mean to people — it was overwhelming in the best way. We felt like we delivered something special.”
He added that despite a career spanning over 30 years — including projects like Garden State, Raising Victor Vargas, Crazy Rich Asians, Tick, Tick… Boom!, and In the Heights — Wicked stands apart.
“I’ve had a wonderful career, but there’s nothing quite like the experience of making Wicked.”
Final Thoughts
With its emotional depth, iconic music, and passionate fanbase, Wicked continues to leave a lasting impression — and if Kerstein’s comments are any indication, the door to Oz may not be closed just yet.
As for more Wicked? Never say never.
