While Dorothy Gale is coming to “Wicked: For Good,” don’t expect to see any stunt casting for the role.
Filmmaker Jon M. Chu has confirmed to People that the new movie will not show Dorothy’s face.
Instead, much like Hugh Jackman’s ‘appearance’ in Netflix’s “The Residence” earlier this year, the action will be limited to shots of her head from only the back or at a distance.
This was not unexpected, as the musical itself never shows Dorothy aside from her silhouette. Chu confirms Dorothy will feature more heavily here in the film and explains why they chose this path:
“I didn’t want to step on who you think Dorothy is in whatever story that you came into this with… [This] is still Elphaba and Glinda’s journey, and she is a pawn in the middle of all of it.”
It’s one of many changes from the stage version that this second film will make, the movie taking much more creative liberties this time to flesh out what’s often deemed the weaker half of the musical.
Some stuff has already been seen in the trailers – from Glinda’s wedding to Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible conjuring up the tornado that brings Dorothy to Oz.
Additionally, actress Marissa Bode – who plays Elphaba’s disabled sister Nessarose – confirms her character’s origin story will differ from the stage version, with “The Wicked Witch of the East” song adjusted to make it less ableist.
Another character’s face has also been kept under wraps, but those are for reasons that will be explained in the film. “Wicked: For Good” opens November 21st.
