For any costume designer, a project as ambitious as Wicked would be thrilling. For Paul Tazewell, it meant taking on an extraordinary challenge: designing costumes for two films simultaneously—Wicked and its sequel, Wicked: For Good.

“It was exciting to shoot this way, to really maximize the scenery and consistency of the characters,” Tazewell says. “But it also meant that we needed to have a clear sense of the overall arc of the story.”

His efforts have already earned recognition, with Tazewell winning an Oscar for his work on the first film. Now, as audiences anticipate the sequel’s release on November 21, he offers a first glimpse into the continuation of the story.

Wicked: For Good picks up immediately after the original: Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), now branded the Wicked Witch of the West, has retreated into the Ozian forest, while Glinda (Ariana Grande) serves the Wizard in Emerald City. Tazewell explains, “In part one, we see two young women beginning their adult lives and making choices about how they want to see the world. In Wicked: For Good, we see how they make sense of the consequences created by those choices.”

Tazewell’s costume design mirrors this evolution, deepening the character studies. As Elphaba withdraws, her iconic black cloak deteriorates, showing wear and distress. “Her tunic is the dress she wears at the end of Wicked, and her duster coat is actually her raincoat from the first film,” he explains. The gradual degradation reflects Elphaba shedding societal expectations and embracing her true self.