Wicked 2 Could Get Cynthia Erivo Her EGOT, But Her Competition Is Fierce

Cynthia Erivo could have two chances to win an Oscar for Wicked: For Good, but her road to achieving the rare EGOT status won’t be easy. After building her career on the stage, Erivo is already one of the most talented people in Hollywood. She’s an incredible singer and a refined actor who has shown impressive range in all of her movies.

Erivo has won several awards, primarily for her work on Broadway as Celie in The Color Purple. Her run earned her a 2016 Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, and a 2017 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program. She earned a Grammy for the production’s soundtrack as well, which won Best Musical Theater Album.

The only award she needs now to complete the EGOT is an Oscar, which has so far eluded her. She’s been nominated three times: once for Best Original Song (“Stand Up” from Harriet), and twice for Best Actress (Harriet and Wicked). She could have two chances to win an Oscar for Wicked: For Good, but they could be uphill battles.

Cynthia Erivo’s Best Actress Competition Is Already Heating Up

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in Wicked: For Good

Erivo delivered a dynamic and beautiful performance as Elphaba in 2024’s Wicked, living up to the high expectations set by Idina Menzel, who originated the role on stage. However, the Academy decided to give Best Actress to Mikey Madison for Anora, which was rightfully deserved. Fortunately, Wicked: For Good gives Erivo a second chance for an Oscar win.

While the Oscar race is still young, Erivo is an early favorite for a nomination, primarily because she’s already proven she’s excellent as Elphaba. The question now is which four actors will join her in the category, and there are many who are getting Oscar buzz for their awards-caliber performances.

One actor getting immense praise from critics is Jessie Buckley for Hamnet. In the film, Buckley plays Agnes Shakespeare, who struggles with the loss of her and husband William Shakespeare’s 11-year-old son. The film won the People’s Choice Award at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, which can often be a good indicator of Oscar success.Hamnet is also directed by Chloé Zhao, who previously directed Frances McDormand to a Best Actress win for Nomadland.

Another early Oscar contender is Emma Stone for Bugonia. Stone has a strong history at the Oscars, and won Best Actress for Poor Things, her previous collaboration with director Yorgos Lanthimos. If she manages to win again at the 2026 ceremony, she’ll be the third person ever to have won Best Actress three times.

Other early contenders for Best Actress include Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value, Amanda Seyfried for The Testament of Ann Lee, Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Chase Infiniti for One Battle After Another, Sydney Sweeney for Christy, and Jennifer Lawrence for Die, My Love. It’s still very early, but there are plenty of strong contenders.

Erivo has a few advantages and disadvantages for this category. One advantage is that she’s already played the role before, and the Academy may want to celebrate all she’s achieved for these two films. However, one disadvantage is that Wicked: For Good is a big blockbuster production, and Academy voters tend to favor smaller films.

It’s rare that an actor wins an Oscar for a role in a mega blockbuster, but it’s entirely possible. Joaquin Phoenix won for his role in Joker, and Cillian Murphy won for playing the titular role in Oppenheimer. Still, the Academy likes to highlight smaller dramas, giving a performance like Buckley’s an advantage over Erivo.

Elphaba’s New Song Will Have A Hard Time Beating K-Pop Demon Hunters

Elphaba talks to Glinda in front of Dorothy's house in Wicked: For Good — Elphaba talks to Glinda in front of Dorothy’s house in Wicked: For Good

Wicked: For Good will expand the film’s already fantastic soundtrack with two new songs. Erivo’s Elphaba will sing “No Place Like Home”, while Ariana Grande’s Glinda will perform “The Girl in the Bubble.” Both songs are written by Stephen Schwartz, the musical’s original songwriter, with Erivo collaborating on Elphaba’s new song.

Since Erivo is a co-writer on “No Place Like Home,” she would be among the nominees if it’s chosen for the Best Original Song category. The actor could be competing against her own film, since “The Girl in the Bubble” might also score a nomination – but it’s another group of powerful singers who she needs to worry about.

KPop Demon Hunters is Netflix’s biggest film ever, going from a streaming hit to worldwide success this past summer. Part of its appeal is its catchy soundtrack, featuring “Golden,” which is arguably the biggest song of the year. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, holding that spot for eight consecutive weeks.

KPop Demon Hunters is not only a hit on Netflix, but also in theaters, as it reached No. 1 at the box office when it had a limited sing-along theatrical release back in August. It’s rare for the Oscars to have a song that has charted so well. The Academy will likely use “Golden” as a promotion for the ceremony, with a live performance and Best Original Song nomination.

It will be difficult for any of Wicked 2‘s songs to take down “Golden,” but that isn’t Erivo’s only competition. Sinners is also a strong candidate for Best Original Song, and recently submitted two options: “I Lied to You” and “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)“. Despite releasing back in April, Sinners still has momentum as an Academy Award contender.

Still, Sinners and Wicked: For Good will have a tough time against “Golden.” It’s a pop culture sensation, and the Academy will want to capitalize on its global popularity. Erivo is so close to getting an EGOT, but it may not happen in 2026.