Wicked 2 is taking an unexpected approach to major Wizard of Oz character – here’s why

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Cynthia Erivo, who stars in *Wicked: For Good*, recently revealed that the upcoming movie will present a surprising take on a key character from *The Wizard of Oz*. She also hinted at who will be playing Dorothy in the film, finally addressing the long-held question of casting.

Ever since Dorothy was introduced in the second act of the stage show, people have been wondering who would play the iconic role-originally made famous by Judy Garland in the 1939 movie-in the second part of Jon M. Chu’s musical adaptation of *Wicked*.

Empire magazine reports that Dorothy will have a significant impact on the next film, but she won’t be a central character. Instead, she’ll mostly appear in the background or from a distance, often seen from behind.

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In an interview with the magazine for their *Wicked: For Good* issue, Erivo shared her reasons for the choice, stating she believes it’s important to honor and preserve Judy Garland’s artistic impact.

I loved what the Elphaba actress said! She explained it so well – it’s amazing that everyone can still have their own version of Dorothy that they remember and cherish.

Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda in the upcoming film, shared how Dorothy’s journey will affect the relationship between Glinda and Elphaba. She jokingly described the choice to send Dorothy down the yellow brick road as a bit of a sneaky move.

You know, I’ve always loved that Glinda isn’t *totally* sweet to Dorothy. It’s like she’s a bit annoyed and doesn’t have the patience for her problems! She easily could have just told Dorothy how to get to the Emerald City, but she doesn’t, which I find hilarious. So when I played Glinda, I really focused on giving her those little eye-roll moments whenever Dorothy needed help. It just felt right for the character!

Chu recently told *Vanity Fair* that Dorothy will have a bigger role in the new *Wicked* movie, *Wicked: For Good*, compared to the stage musical.

In the musical, Dorothy isn’t shown clearly as a fully developed character – she mostly appears as a shadowy figure. This was done on purpose to keep the audience’s attention on the central relationship between Glinda and Elphaba.

We approach things carefully, focusing on the emotional impact on the female characters and striving for a deeper understanding than what’s often shown on screen. We’re very mindful and sensitive in how we handle these stories.

Wicked: For Good is released in cinemas on 21 November.

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2025-09-23 19:19