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The film “Wicked,” featuring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, and Ariana Grande as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, captivated audiences and became a box office sensation. As anticipation builds for its sequel, “Wicked: For Good,” set to hit theaters this November, it’s worth remembering that these films owe their existence to L. Frank Baum’s classic novel, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” This beloved story introduced us to Dorothy Gale, a Kansas farmgirl whose adventures along the yellow brick road have been cherished since its publication in 1900 and the iconic 1939 movie adaptation. Interestingly, the film adaptation presented a different take on Baum’s original tale.
Universal Pictures/YouTube
Ahead of “Wicked: For Good,” many are curious about who will portray Dorothy. However, the answer is more complex than expected. According to Empire, Dorothy won’t be shown directly in the film; instead, her presence is captured from afar or behind. Director Jon M. Chu explained to People that he aimed to preserve each viewer’s personal vision of Dorothy. Whether you imagine her as Judy Garland’s 16-year-old portrayal, the pigtailed girl from Baum’s illustrations, or Fairuza Balk’s 11-year-old character from “Return to Oz,” you won’t face any conflict from seeing a new Dorothy in this sequel. This approach also keeps the focus on Elphaba and Glinda’s journey, emphasizing Dorothy’s role as a pivotal, yet secondary, character.
In Baum’s original book, Dorothy’s perception of witches is straightforward: one is good, the other evil. However, “Wicked: For Good” promises to challenge these notions. While Glinda may initially seem to Dorothy as purely benevolent, her actions reveal more complexity. Despite guiding Dorothy to the Emerald City, she does so with a less-than-direct route, hinting at her nuanced personality.
Ariana Grande shared with Empire her appreciation for Glinda’s subtle shadiness. “She has a lot on her plate and doesn’t prioritize Dorothy’s journey,” Grande remarked. “Glinda could have suggested a quicker route, like the Emerald City train, but she didn’t. I enjoyed revealing Glinda’s bit of an eye-roll attitude toward Dorothy when they interact.”
Glinda isn’t as nice as she seems in The Wizard of Oz
Universal Pictures/YouTube
“Wicked: For Good” also delves deeper into Dorothy’s arrival in Oz. Jon M. Chu revealed to People that Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible will be central to a pivotal scene familiar to many: the conjuring of the tornado. This iconic moment, not thoroughly explored in the stage production, will be expanded in the film. Regardless of how the citizens of Oz perceive her, Dorothy’s arrival is set to make a significant impact when “Wicked: For Good” premieres on November 21, bringing both her and her beloved dog back into the spotlight.
“I love the little bit of shadiness that Glinda has towards Dorothy,” Ariana Grande told Empire. “There’s a lot going on, and she doesn’t really have time to deal with this. She could have told her to take the Emerald City train! But she didn’t. That’s a little shady, Glinda! So I leaned all the way into Glinda sort of having an eye roll for Dorothy whenever she has to deal with her.”
Another thing that we’ll learn more about in “Wicked: For Good” is how Dorothy got to Oz in the first place. Jon M. Chu told People that Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible, the teacher who becomes Elphaba’s enemy, will be part of “an iconic moment we all know from our youth” that will be expanded on in “Wicked: For Good.” “We have this amazing moment of the tornado and how it gets conjured, which is not in the [“Wicked” stage] show, really.” Whatever the people of Oz really think of her, Dorothy will have a big impact on “Wicked: For Good” when she (and her little dog too) come to theaters November 21.
