Wish Ending Explained

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Wish

Wish is Disney’s latest animated movie, but it’s also one that celebrates the studio’s 100th anniversary, and the film’s ending and Easter eggs are an homage to that. On the Mediterranean island of Rosas, Asha is excited to interview for a position as King Magnifico’s apprentice, but everything changes when she discovers he isn’t interested in granting wishes or returning them to their rightful owners. With the support of her friends and a wishing star, Asha fights back against Magnifico. Angry that Rosas’ people would question his rule and the wishing ceremony, Magnifico decides to use the book of corrupt magic to keep his citizens in check and fight Asha.

Magnifico believes anyone rising against him is a threat to Rosas. Asha, Queen Amaya, and her friends — save for Simon, who betrayed Asha to Magnifico — plan to distract the king, so they can break into his study to free their wishes. But Magnifico, now fully corrupted by dark magic, thwarts them and traps Star inside his staff. Asha realizes that everyone is a star, so she starts singing to encourage people to fight. They break free from Magnifico’s magic and are able to stop him while he’s sucked into his staff. Before leaving, Star bestows Asha with a magic wand, and she takes over granting wishes as a fairy godmother.

Related: Wish Review: A Charming, If Flawed, Ode To Disney’s Past

King Magnifico’s Villainous Plans For Star & Rosas Explained

King Magnifico was corrupted over time, but Asha’s attempts to return wishes pushed him over the edge. While the king initially created Rosas to be a safe haven, and he promised he would grant wishes, Magnifico became hungry for power and magic. He grew paranoid that it would be taken away and, knowing that Asha was in possession of Star’s power, Magnifico plotted to siphon Star’s wish-granting abilities for his own ends. He went to great lengths to keep the wishes he’d stolen in his possession and turned against his people. Magnifico was self-obsessed and couldn’t stand the idea that Asha was getting the upper hand against him.

The king didn’t care if he hurt the people of Rosas so long as he maintained his control over them and continued to increase his own power. Stealing Star’s power was the next step in amassing the magic he had kept for himself for so long, and it would make him all the more powerful, which he likely believed would keep everyone from ever questioning him again. Magnifico went to great lengths to achieve his goals; if that meant betraying his own people to keep them docile, then so be it. King Magnifico was only thinking about himself, and he was fueled by his greed first and foremost.

The Real Reason Queen Amaya Finally Turned Against Magnifico

Queen Amaya stood by her husband’s side for the majority of Wish. She believed in Magnifico’s desire to do good for the people of Rosas, though the lyrics to “Knowing What I Know Now” suggested she turned a blind eye to Magnifico’s lust for power and magic over the years. Queen Amaya simply didn’t want to believe that Magnifico would stoop so low, but watching as he grew angry about people challenging his rule and Magnifico’s hunt for Asha gave Amaya new insight into her husband.

She could no longer ignore his terrible deeds, or his plans to use dark magic to gain the upper hand. This pushed Amaya to stand against Magnifico. He was no longer the man she had grown to love, and he’d strayed too far off the path they were on. Magnifico was no longer interested in helping Rosas, and Amaya couldn’t stand by silently and watch as he destroyed the people and the kingdom they had both built together. Queen Amaya knew Magnifico wouldn’t listen to reason, so she joined Asha because the rose-colored glasses had permanently come off.

How Asha’s Wish Upon A Star Differed From Everyone Else’s

At 18, Asha could also participate in the wishing ceremony. But discovering Magnifico’s true intentions didn’t inspire her to give him her wish, especially knowing she would forget it. Asha wished upon a star instead and, while she had no idea Star would appear to her in an attempt to help grant it, her wish differed from everyone else’s because it was coming from a place of selflessness. Asha wanted more for the people of Rosas, and her wish came straight from the heart. She was looking towards the sky rather than asking for it to be fulfilled by King Magnifico, which allowed Star to take notice to begin with.

Why Rosas’ Population Lost Their Memories After Making A Wish

Whenever someone made a wish in Rosas, they would forget what it was. This would leave a gaping hole in their hearts as King Magnifico collected the wishes and kept them locked away. Considering Magnifico’s control over Rosas, it’s possible the king utilized his magic so that the wish itself would be permanently removed from the person who made it. If they could no longer remember what their wish was, they wouldn’t challenge Magnifico’s rule or push for him to return their wishes. Erasing people’s memories of their wishes gave Magnifico power over them, and the magic he used ensured they always knew their place without question.

The Real Meaning Of King Magnifico’s Evil Turn

King Magnifico spent his whole life trying to prevent what happened to his own village to Rosas. But he ended up making people compliant, controlling them under the guise of keeping them safe. This ultimately led them to rise up against him, because a population controlled and kept in the dark wouldn’t stay that way forever. However good his intentions may have been at the start, Magnifico had essentially become what he hated most.

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In preventing the people of Rosas from the freedom to keep their wishes, and stifling their voices in challenging his rule and methods, Magnifico paved the way for a revolution to happen no matter how hard he tried to prevent it — only this time he was the bad guy everyone needed protection from. His actions went against his original ethos, proving that power corrupts even the most well-intentioned if it goes unchecked.

How King Magnifico’s Ending Sets Up Wish 2

King Magnifico tapped into corrupt magic at the end of Wish. Once he made that choice, there was no turning back for him, no chance of recovering his reputation or being absolved of wrongdoing. Magnifico was ultimately trapped inside his own magic staff, and though it looked like he was no longer under its influence, he was sentenced to the dungeons by Queen Amaya. However, that doesn’t mean it’s the last of King Magnifico. Just as Star managed to escape the magic staff, it’s possible for Magnifico to do the same in the future.

Granted, the staff is now broken, but it could be that Magnifico will harness some untapped power that remains inside the staff to escape and plot his revenge against Asha. Magnifico would have to face the wrath of Asha, who now has a magic wand, and the people of Rosas, but he could still try if there was any chance of reclaiming his power. As of this writing, there are no plans for a Wish sequel, and Disney animations are less likely to have one. But should the opportunity arise, Magnifico could return.