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Some of cinema’s most recognizable characters were brought back to life in Wicked: For Good.
The Broadway musical adaptation and follow-up film to Wicked premiered in theaters on Nov. 21, picking up after the events of the 2024 movie. While Wicked explored the years before The Wizard of Oz and the unlikely friendship between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande), Wicked: For Good bridges the gap to The Wizard of Oz.
In addition to Glinda and Elphaba fully embracing their identities as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West, the 2025 movie also brought back several familiar faces from the 1939 original. Dorothy Gale, the Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow each make appearances as the film positions the characters for The Wizard of Oz.
Director Jon M. Chu told ComicBookMovie in November 2024 that because the classic film hints that Oz may have been only Dorothy’s dream, Wicked needed to reestablish “a world of real stakes” before bringing in the familiar faces from The Wizard of Oz.
“We dropped everyone into the crime scene, maybe the most famous crime scene ever in cinema and literature, of the iconic hat in the puddle,” he said. “We see the full landscape of Oz. It’s this living, breathing place with real cultures, so we immediately establish this is not a dream world. Seeing those four characters also triggers something in your mind; you connect those characters with this place.”
So, how does the Wicked sequel compare to the original cast? See the cast of Wicked: For Good side-by-side with their characters from The Wizard of Oz.
Glinda: Billie Burke and Ariana Grande
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Billie Burke will forever be remembered as the pink-hued, sparkly Oz guru who asked Dorothy, “Are you a good witch or a bad witch?” Grande explored the character beyond her bubble in Wicked and Wicked: For Good.
“I think she’s a person who loves so much, and I do think that it goes beyond gender, and I think that’s a common theme in Oz,” the pop star said in a January 2025 interview with Variety. “I also think that the ways in which she loves Elphaba so much, and that forgiveness and that unconditional love that they share — I think they’re in love with each other. I know, yes, it’s platonic.”
Outside of Wicked: For Good, Grande has found success in her multi-platinum music career and acting in Victorious, Don’t Look Up and Hairspray Live!.
The Wicked Witch of the West: Margaret Hamilton and Cynthia Erivo
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In the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz, Margaret Hamilton’s portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West was defined by her chilling demand to Dorothy, “I’ll get you, my pretty.” Erivo’s reprisal of the role — originated on Broadway in 2003 by Idina Menzel — showed the nuanced backstory of how Elphaba became one of the most iconic villains of all time.
“I think that we’ve been able to crack open her vulnerability, a softer side of her that hasn’t necessarily been on show before, to reveal the real humanity within,” the actress told Gold Derby in November 2025.
Erivo added, “We’ve humanized this character, made her really three-dimensional, [shown her as] someone whose heart really beats, who has heartbreak and loss and grief and hurt and pain and love and lust and all of those things and desire, and we’ve been able to make that real.”
Outside of Wicked: For Good, the Tony-winning actress rose to fame for her work in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple and appearing in projects like Harriet, Widows and Bad Times at the El Royale.
Dorothy Gale: Judy Garland and Bethany Weaver
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Playing Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz turned Judy Garland into a household name. Though the Kansas farm girl was still a part of Wicked: For Good, Bethany Weaver’s portrayal was much more symbolic. She has no dialogue in the movie and her face is never shown.
Still, Weaver viewed the role as a profound responsibility.
“This has been a life changing experience, it’s changed me in so many ways and most importantly, for good,” she captioned an Instagram post featuring photos from behind the scenes of Wicked: For Good. “It’s been an honour to carry the legacy of the brilliant women before me who have stepped into these shoes, and embarked on the yellow brick road. I hope I have made them proud.”
Outside of Wicked: For Good, Weaver is best known for her stage work in London, including productions at the Urdang Academy.
The Cowardly Lion: Bert Lahr and Colman Domingo
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Bert Lahr’s comedic charm in the 1939 film helped make the Cowardly Lion a fan favorite. Fans of Oz got to see how Elphaba freed the Lion when he was a cub in Wicked, and Colman Domingo’s take in Wicked: For Good reveals why the now-adult Lion blames her for his shaken confidence.
Outside of Wicked: For Good, the Emmy-winning actor’s most notable projects include Euphoria, Fear the Walking Dead, Sing Sing and The Four Seasons.
The Scarecrow: Ray Bolger and Jonathan Bailey
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Ray Bolger’s lack of a brain made the Scarecrow one of Dorothy’s most memorable companions in the 1939 film. Wicked reimagined his beginnings through Fiyero’s transformation, with Jonathan Bailey playing the smooth operator before and after he was transformed into straw by Elphaba in Wicked: For Good.
Before he was the Wicked Witch’s love interest, the actor rose to fame for his role in Netflix’s Bridgerton and was named PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2025.
The Tin Man: Jack Haley and Ethan Slater
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Despite not having a heart, Jack Haley’s 1939 Tin Man was full of emotion. In the Wicked films, Ethan Slater shows the beginning of his story as Boq and how his tragic transformation into tin unfolded.
Outside of Wicked: For Good, the Tony-nominated actor is best known for originating the title role in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical.
Slater has also been dating his Wicked costar Grande since 2023.
The Wizard of Oz: Frank Morgan and Jeff Goldblum
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While Frank Morgan’s Wizard of Oz was a lovable fraud, Jeff Goldblum’s take is more deceitful with his true intention — and relation to Elphaba — hidden until Wicked: For Good.
A longstanding staple of Hollywood, the actor has taken on many other notable roles in Jurassic Park, The Fly, Independence Day and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
