Overview
- After its Nov. 21 release, the sequel has cleared roughly $255 million worldwide, with strong audience response noted in late‑November reporting.
- Chu confirms he cast Dorothy via silhouette auditions and kept her face off‑screen, ultimately selecting dancer Bethany Weaver to avoid diverting attention from the two leads.
- The director says he screened cuts without musical numbers to test narrative flow, affirming the need for every song, including Stephen Schwartz’s new ballads “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble.”
- Filmmakers describe an actor‑devised, emotionally pivotal exchange that Chu chose to keep, underscoring the film’s character‑first approach.
- Coverage highlights a darker, politically resonant tone, with Schwartz linking new music to contemporary concerns, and Universal’s CMO saying plans to expand the franchise are underway.