Bowen Yang Says ‘For Good’ in Wicked Sequel Rivals ‘Defying Gravity’: Subverts ‘Astronomical Expectations’ (Exclusive)

Bowen Yang says Wicked fans are in for a treat when it comes to the ballad “For Good.”

In an interview with PEOPLE, the star of the new romantic comedy The Wedding Banquet teases Wicked: For Good, the second part of the 2024 hit movie, which is based on the popular Broadway show.

“The same way that everybody expected ‘Defying Gravity’ to be this big moment — but to such a degree that everyone was like, ‘Well, how can it outdo these expectations?’ — and then it did. I feel like it’s going to be that same situation with the song ‘For Good,’” says Yang, 34.

“It’s just like, you’re going to see it coming and then when it happens, you’re going to be like, ‘I can’t believe what I’m watching.’ It’s going to subvert the already astronomical expectations,” he continues.

The musical, a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, tells the origin stories of the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch, known here as Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande). Yang plays Pfannee, a fellow Shiz University classmate and Glinda’s close pal.

In the first part of the movie, the reserved Elphaba and bubbly Glinda become roommates and then friends despite their different personalities. The show-stopping song “Defying Gravity” closes out the film as Elphaba — framed as being wicked by her former mentor Madam Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) —  and Glinda ultimately take different paths.

In the emotional scene, Erivo delivers an impressive run of notes that became part of the cultural conversation. 

The film’s second part, Wicked: For Good, features “For Good” — a touching duet between Elphaba and Glinda with lyrics that explores the impact of friendship.

Yang — who is tight-lipped about any other details — says he’s excited to reunite with the cast for another extended, splashy press tour. “It was so big,” he recalls of the first one. “We got so many amazing moments out of it.”

“We’re not being too gratuitous or self-aggrandizing about it,” he adds. “It’s just like, you want big movies like this to have a presence on campaigns because it just makes it more fun.”

Wicked: For Good isn’t out until November, but fans can now see Yang in The Wedding Banquet, a remake of the 1993 Ang Lee romantic comedy, which is in theaters nationwide.

For more on Bowen Yang, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE.