Gregory Maguire is returning to Oz.
The author of the bestselling Wicked will publish a prequel to the novel next year, William Morrow announced in a news release. The press describes Elphie as “the riveting coming-of-age story of a very peculiar and relatable young girl.”
Wicked, published in 1995 by ReganBooks, tells the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West from L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz, and her college roommate, Glinda, who becomes the Good Witch of the South.
The novel was a bestseller and spawned three follow-up books, Son of a Witch, A Lion Among Men, and Out of Oz. The first novel also was adapted into a musical of the same name that premiered in 2003; the show was a smash hit, becoming the fourth-longest-running musical in Broadway history.
The first film in a two-part series based on the musical is slated to open in theaters later this month. It was directed by Jon M. Chu and stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda.
Elphie will tell the story of Elphaba’s childhood. “In response to readers’ longstanding curiosity,” William Morrow says, “Maguire’s Elphie will explore the complexities of Elphaba’s character, offering a profound insight into her transformation into one of literature’s most iconic witches.”
Elphie is scheduled for publication on March 25, 2025.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
