The Truth About The Elphaba And Glinda Kiss: What The New Wicked Movie Reveals

The relationship between Elphaba and Glinda is the emerald heart of Oz, a bond that transcends mere friendship and fuels one of the most passionate fan bases in modern theater. As of December 15, 2025, the question of whether the two iconic witches share a kiss in the new, highly anticipated two-part film adaptation remains the subject of intense speculation and hope for "Gelphie" shippers globally, especially with the first installment, Wicked: Part One, having premiered on November 22, 2024, and Wicked: For Good scheduled for November 21, 2025. The answer lies in a fascinating difference between the source material and the stage show that the movie is based on.

The core dynamic between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) has always been defined by an intense, complicated, and transformative love, though the musical itself has maintained a strictly platonic interpretation. However, recent updates and the sheer depth of their on-screen chemistry have reignited the debate: Will director Jon M. Chu finally acknowledge the romantic subtext and the original novel's canon?

Wicked Movie Stars: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande Profile

The success of the Wicked film adaptation hinges on the chemistry of its two leads, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, both of whom bring formidable musical and acting prowess to the roles of the future Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, respectively. Their profiles are essential to understanding the buzz surrounding the film.

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Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba)

• Full Name: Cynthia Onyedinmanasu Chinasa Erivo
• Date of Birth: January 8, 1987
• Place of Birth: Stockwell, London, England
• Nationality: British
• Career Highlights: Erivo is an Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award winner (EGOT nominee, only missing an Oscar). She won a Tony for her performance as Celie in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple. Her film roles include Harriet Tubman in Harriet (receiving two Oscar nominations) and roles in Bad Times at the El Royale and Widows.
• Role in Wicked: Elphaba Thropp, the misunderstood, green-skinned outcast who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.

Ariana Grande (Glinda)

• Full Name: Ariana Grande-Butera
• Date of Birth: June 26, 1993
• Place of Birth: Boca Raton, Florida, USA
• Nationality: American
• Career Highlights: Grande is a multi-platinum, Grammy-winning pop superstar, one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She began her career on Broadway in 13 and gained initial fame on the Nickelodeon show Victorious. Her hit albums include Thank U, Next and Sweetener.
• Role in Wicked: Glinda Upland (later Glinda the Good), the popular, initially superficial student who forms a deep bond with Elphaba.

The Definitive Answer: Did Elphaba and Glinda Kiss in the Canon?

To answer the burning question—"Did Elphaba and Glinda kiss?"—one must look beyond the Broadway stage and into the original source material. The answer is a surprising "Yes," but with a crucial distinction from the musical's narrative.

The Book's Canon: Gregory Maguire's "Wicked"

In Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which the musical is based on, Elphaba and Glinda (called Galinda in the book) share a kiss.

• The Scene: The kiss occurs during a moment of intense emotional upheaval and finality. It is a spontaneous, desperate expression of their profound connection just before their lives diverge irrevocably.
• The Context: While often interpreted by fans as explicitly romantic, the kiss in the novel is more an ambiguous, powerful expression of a love that defies simple categorization—whether platonic soulmate connection or unacknowledged romance.

The Musical's Canon: A Platonic Soulmate Connection

The Broadway musical, which the 2024/2025 films primarily adapt, deliberately shifts the focus of the Elphaba and Glinda relationship. In the musical:

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• The Relationship: Their bond is portrayed as the ultimate "true love" story, but strictly platonic. It is a friendship so intense it overshadows the traditional romantic love triangle involving Fiyero.
• The Kiss: A kiss is not included in the stage production. The final, emotional farewell is a hug and a promise, culminating in the iconic song "For Good."

Therefore, while the core "Gelphie" relationship is a "true love" story, the musical's canon—which the films follow—does not include a kiss between the two witches. This is why the anticipation for the movie has been so high; fans hoped the film would revert to the book's canon or introduce a new, explicitly romantic moment.

Why the Kiss is Unlikely in the New Wicked Films

Despite the overwhelming fan desire and the precedent set in the original novel, a kiss between Elphaba and Glinda in the Wicked films is considered unlikely by most experts. This conclusion is based on the movie's commitment to the musical's established narrative and structure.

Adherence to the Musical's Plot

The Wicked films, particularly Part One and For Good, are a direct adaptation of the stage musical, not a new adaptation of the novel. Changing a major plot point like the nature of the core relationship would fundamentally alter the story that millions of fans already know and love.

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The Deleted Scene Controversy

Adding to the speculation, there were reports of a "passionate" kissing scene being filmed and then cut from Wicked: For Good. However, this deleted scene was confirmed to be between Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), not Elphaba. Screenwriter Dana Fox mentioned that the Fiyero/Glinda kiss was cut because it was "too spicy," further confirming that the filmmakers are meticulously controlling the romantic dynamics.

The "True Love" Interpretation

The creators have often emphasized that the love between Elphaba and Glinda is a powerful, non-romantic form of "true love." This interpretation allows the story to explore themes of female friendship, political dissent, and societal judgment without needing to fit into a traditional romantic framework. The depth of their bond is meant to be the focus, regardless of physical expression.

The Future of the Gelphie Relationship on Screen

While the films are likely to maintain the platonic framework of the musical, the chemistry between Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, combined with the emotional power of their final scenes, is expected to be more intense than ever.

• Subtext is Key: Director Jon M. Chu is known for his visual storytelling, and the film will undoubtedly lean heavily into the emotional subtext that has made "Gelphie" so popular.
• A Modern Reading: In the current cultural landscape, the idea that a profound, life-altering bond between two women can be interpreted as romantic, even without an explicit kiss, is a powerful statement in itself.
• The Ending of "For Good": The second film, Wicked: For Good, will focus on the final, mysterious conclusion of their story, which involves Elphaba's alleged death and Glinda's transformation into the Good Witch. It is in this emotional farewell that the film's true impact will be felt, kiss or no kiss.

In conclusion, while the original novel confirms a kiss, the Wicked movie adaptation, following the musical, has not included an explicit kissing scene between Elphaba and Glinda in its final cut. The ultimate answer remains that their relationship is a love story for the ages—a powerful, complex, and emotionally charged bond that continues to captivate audiences and inspire the most passionate fan theories in Oz.