Gregory Maguire Announces a New Galinda Prequel from ‘Wicked’ Coming in 2026
The Wicked universe is set to expand with a new prequel novel from author Gregory Maguire. Titled Galinda: A Charmed Childhood, the book will delve into the backstory of the Good Witch and is scheduled for release on September 29, 2026.
Maguire’s 1995 novel inspired the original Broadway sensation, which was later adapted into a successful Universal film featuring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Galinda is described as a sister volume to the bestselling Elphie: A Wicked Childhood, which explores the origins of the Wicked Witch, aiming to provide a deeper narrative regarding the character often perceived as a “bubbly, shallow cliché.”
The synopsis offers insight into Galinda’s upbringing: “The youngest of four children in a high-born family down on their luck, Galinda is both pampered and ignored. Her natural grace promises to elevate her in the district dance competitions—but these efforts distract her from seeing the growing resentments of local merchants who disapprove of her family’s business strategies. Enmired in the self-satisfactions and unnamed timidities of childhood, Galinda finds in herself neither canniness nor the need to cultivate it. However, as her father deftly pivots around the snares and nets laid for him by his competitors, Galinda begins to dance toward a life that might lift her above her proud, if hardscrabble, childhood.”
Watch on Deadline
According to HarperCollins and its imprint William Morrow, limited deluxe hardcover editions of Galinda will be available, featuring stenciled edges and designed endpapers, while supplies last.
Wicked: For Good recently surpassed box office records previously held by the franchise, opening with $147 million domestically and $223 million worldwide. Even though Grande and Erivo have moved on from their roles, Universal CMO Michael Moses indicates that the studio is actively exploring the expansion of this cinematic universe.
“Because of Wicked’s success but also the fanship, we have almost a responsibility to figure out how we can continue in this universe,” Moses stated. “Have we figured it out yet? No. But there are things underway.”
Glances at Galinda’s childhood appear in Wicked 2, including a birthday scene where she receives a wand but struggles to perform a spell. Faced with peer pressure, she fabricates a story about a rainbow to save face. Later, her concerns about her abilities are dismissed by her parents, who urge her to focus on her natural charm.
