Overview

• Empire confirms two original Stephen Schwartz numbers: Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba sings 'No Place Like Home' and Ariana Grande’s Glinda performs 'Girl In The Bubble'.
• Erivo describes Elphaba’s song as an introspective moment that questions her drive to keep fighting for Oz despite rejection.
• Grande says Glinda’s new number marks a decision to become truly good and to reshape Oz, reflecting a pivotal step in the character’s growth.
• Jon M. Chu and the cast discuss a grimmer trajectory and a friendship under strain, with Grande calling the sequel a series of traumatic events that forge Glinda’s resolve.
• Empire’s November 2025 issue—with exclusive covers, images, and interviews with Chu, Erivo, Grande, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, and Michelle Yeoh—goes on sale Thursday 25 September, ahead of the UK release on 21 November 2025.