{"id":173196,"date":"2025-11-10T14:04:16","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T14:04:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/173196\/"},"modified":"2025-11-10T14:04:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T14:04:16","slug":"the-real-reason-why-wicked-for-good-cast-including-ariana-grande-wont-visit-australia-to-promote-the-blockbuster-sequel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/173196\/","title":{"rendered":"The real reason why Wicked: For Good cast including Ariana Grande WON’T visit Australia to promote the blockbuster sequel"},"content":{"rendered":"

By ALI DAHER, SENIOR SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA<\/a> <\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 04:40 EST, 10 November 2025 | Updated: 04:44 EST, 10 November 2025 <\/p>\n

Despite the nation’s love for all things Oz, the cast of Wicked: For Good will not be travelling Down Under to promote the highly anticipated sequel.<\/p>\n

After dazzling Sydney<\/a> last year with a red-carpet premiere for the first Wicked film – complete with appearances by stars Ariana Grande<\/a>, Cynthia Erivo<\/a>, Jonathan Bailey<\/a> and Jeff Goldblum – Australians were expecting another major Hollywood spectacle.<\/p>\n

But this time around, Universal Pictures has quietly confirmed that the global promotional tour will skip Australia entirely, focusing instead on S\u00e3o Paulo, Paris, Singapore<\/a>, London and New York ahead of the film’s release on November 20.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Industry insiders say the decision comes down to cold, hard logistics and cost efficiency.<\/p>\n

Promoting a blockbuster of this scale involves enormous expense – travel, accommodation, staging and security – and studios typically prioritise regions expected to drive the biggest box-office returns.<\/p>\n

While Wicked performed strongly in Australia, it’s considered a ‘stable’ market that will turn up regardless of whether the stars do.<\/p>\n

\"Despite <\/p>\n

Despite the nation’s love for all things Oz, the cast of Wicked: For Good will not be travelling Down Under to promote the highly anticipated sequel. Pictured: Ariana Grande\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"After <\/p>\n

After dazzling Sydney last year with a red-carpet premiere for the first Wicked film – complete with appearances by stars Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey and Jeff Goldblum (all pictured) – Australians were expecting another major Hollywood spectacle<\/p>\n

Celebrity publicist and digital marketing guru Adrian Falk told Daily Mail the move shouldn’t come as a surprise.<\/p>\n

‘They know that the movie is going to rate either way and Aussies have flocked to the cinemas to see it before,’ Falk said.<\/p>\n

‘Having Ariana and the cast here isn’t going to do anyone any favours – the return on investment just isn’t there when the film already sells itself.’<\/p>\n

Falk explained that the studio is simply focusing on bigger markets closer to Hollywood’s radar.<\/p>\n

‘The reality is, Australia is a small territory in the grand scheme of global box office,’ he said.<\/p>\n

‘You’ve got to remember, these stars are in high demand and the studios will always prioritise markets that make the biggest financial sense.’<\/p>\n

He added that in 2025, digital engagement carries far more weight than physical appearances.<\/p>\n

Falk also believes the absence of a visit could actually fuel more publicity.<\/p>\n

\"This <\/p>\n

This time around, Universal Pictures has quietly confirmed that the global promotional tour will skip Australia entirely, focusing instead on S\u00e3o Paulo, Paris, Singapore , London and New York ahead of the film’s release on November 20. (Cynthia and Ariana pictured in Sydney in November 2024)<\/p>\n

‘Sometimes not having the stars show up actually creates more buzz,’ he said.<\/p>\n

‘People talk about it, media covers the ‘snub’, and suddenly you’ve got more headlines and social chatter than if they’d just flown in, smiled for photos and left.’<\/p>\n

Many local fans have taken to social media to express their disappointment after learning that Australia was cut from the promotional itinerary.<\/p>\n

Some had hoped to see Ariana and Cynthia reunite in Sydney, where thousands of fans gathered last year for the film’s first instalment premiere.<\/p>\n

Wicked: For Good opens in Australian cinemas on November 20.<\/a><\/p>\n

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\n The real reason why Wicked: For Good cast including Ariana Grande WON’T visit Australia to promote the blockbuster sequel<\/p>\n