Emerald light flickers once more, and with it, a new generation of wonder. The Wizard of Oz 2 (2026), directed by the visionary Greta Gerwig, is not a retelling — it’s a rebirth. A shimmering, emotional odyssey through memory, courage, and imagination, the film reclaims the heart of Oz while giving it the depth, humor, and humanity that define Gerwig’s storytelling.
Florence Pugh anchors the story as Lydia Gale, a young woman burdened by loss and lineage. When surreal storms tear across modern-day Kansas, she discovers her grandmother was none other than Dorothy Gale — the girl who once walked a yellow brick road and changed the world. Drawn into a reawakened Oz now fractured by time, Lydia steps not into technicolor joy, but into a kingdom haunted by its forgotten heroes.
Andrew Garfield is a revelation as The Scarecrow Reforged — clever, wistful, and quietly broken. His quest for wisdom has twisted into self-doubt, his once-golden straw now silvered with age and regret. Jeff Goldblum, as The Wizard Reformed, brings his trademark eccentric brilliance, portraying a man desperate to undo his past deceits and restore meaning to a world built on illusion. Together, they form a trio bound by faith, fear, and fragile hope.
Saoirse Ronan adds electricity to the ensemble as Asteria, a mysterious enchantress who may be the key to undoing the Emerald Curse — or the architect of it. Her scenes with Pugh are luminous, pulsing with sisterly tension and the ache of shared destiny.
Visually, Gerwig crafts a feast for the senses. Oz is no longer a dreamland — it’s a living metaphor, shimmering between beauty and decay. The Emerald City glows with fractured light, its streets lined with reflections of past glories. The Yellow Brick Road, cracked and overgrown, winds through meadows of glass and skies painted in surreal watercolor hues. Every frame by cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto feels like a moving mural — alive, symbolic, and breathtaking.
The musical sequences are bold and transformative. Composer Jonny Greenwood fuses orchestral majesty with haunting melodies, creating songs that blend cinematic scope with lyrical intimacy. Highlights include “The Road Remembers,” Pugh’s soaring ballad of self-discovery, and “Hearts of Glass,” a stunning ensemble number that marries melancholy and hope in Gerwig’s signature emotional rhythm.
The film’s narrative mirrors The Wizard of Oz thematically but matures it emotionally. The scarecrow no longer seeks knowledge — he fears the cost of it. The wizard no longer pretends to be a god — he longs to be forgiven. And Lydia doesn’t want to go home — she wants to understand what home means.
Gerwig’s direction blends nostalgia and nuance. She honors the magic of the 1939 classic while grounding her world in modern questions of legacy, identity, and the quiet courage to dream again. The film’s finale — Lydia placing her hand on the Yellow Brick Road as it glows back to life — feels like cinema at its purest: hopeful, transcendent, timeless.
💬 Film Verdict:
⭐ ★★★★★ (4.8/5) — “The Wizard of Oz 2” is a masterwork of heart and imagination — an emotional symphony where fantasy meets philosophy. Florence Pugh is radiant, Garfield heartbreakingly human, and Gerwig crafts a story that reminds us why we dream in color. 🌈💫
Watch movie:
*Content is hosted on a partner site.
