It was recently announced that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have been cast in the lead roles of Elphaba (The Wicked Witch) and Glinda (The Good Witch) for the upcoming film adaptation of the Stephen Schwartz/Winnie Holzman 2003 Broadway musical.
This musical should have been made into a film many years ago, allowing both Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth to reprise their iconic roles as the two witches from Oz. Or perhaps, at the very least an original cast recording should have been made in the same vein as Hamilton (2020) or Rent (2005).
As a massive fan of Wicked, I decided to put together my dream casting for the lead and supporting roles for the upcoming musical film.
Before we get to the lead roles of Elphaba and Glinda, let’s take a look at our supporting characters.
Fiyero – Jonathan Groff
The character of Fiyero is social, affable, and lovable. He is fun, smooth, and at times naive, who is intelligent and torn by the social demands of vanity, peer pressure, and propaganda.
Jonathan Groff is my choice for the role of Fiyero. Groff is no stranger to the stage! With many credits including Hamilton, Glee, and Frozen, and a powerful rocker voice that is needed for the role, there is no doubt that he would be able to take on this role and give a flawless performance. And it’s high time that we get to see him in a film adaption of a musical.
The Wizard – Hugh Jackman
A softly spoken, blindly confident, easily influenced, and superficial person. A metaphorical example of the corruption of power through false representation, the wizard trades his morality for popularity. His grand façade is a representation of his false power. He is a charlatan who understands politics, but perhaps not the fragility of his own character.
Hugh Jackman is my choice to play The Wizard of Oz. The role of The Wizard might not be the most likable of characters in this story, but Jackman can bring a certain charisma to the role. Besides, can we really ever get enough of Hugh Jackman singing? I think not!
Madame Morrible – Bette Midler
A dark, conniving, and cunning character. Highly manipulative, seductive, and inherently evil, she has no internal conflict as to the nature of her character. She has a strong understanding of the power of fear and machinations of public propaganda.
Bette Midler is my choice to play Madame Morrible. Midler without a doubt cast a spell on me years ago, and has proven time and time again that she is a boss witch, which makes her perfect for this role!
Nessarose – Jenna Ushkowitz
Elphaba’s beautiful, intelligent sister. Wheelchair-bound, Nessarose is their father’s favorite, and her paralysis underpins insecurity that drives her need for social acceptance. Abandonment, unreciprocated love, and the pressures of a government drive Nessarose to an internal conflict that ultimately affects her character.
Jenna Ushkowitz is my choice to play NessaRose. When watching Glee I just fell in love with Ushkowitz’s voice and it would be great to see more of her.
Boq – Darren Criss
An insecure, dorky, and quirky character. A lovable munchkin who is infatuated with Glinda and will do anything to please her. Later, Boq’s passionately misinformed rage helps drive the hunt for Elphaba.
Darren Criss is my choice to play Boq. For a brief moment, he was my Fiyero, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized he is perfect for the role of Boq.
Doctor Dillamond – Neil Patrick Harris
Doctor Dillamond is known as the moral compass in this world of Oz. A teacher of life sciences and a philosopher, he is warm, noble, and fatherly. He also just so happens to be a goat. And as such, he is an active campaigner for equal rights. His individualism is reflected in his intellect, morality, and strength of character.
Neil Patrick Harris is my choice for the role of Doctor Dillamond. While listening to the OBC recording I could just hear Neil Patrick Harris in this role. He’s been a favorite actor of mine since his Doogie Howser days and became captivated when I discovered, Dr. Horrible’s Sing A Long Blong. He has portrayed many roles on stage, and now it’s time to bring that talent to the big screen!
Now is the moment you have all been waiting for! Who do I think should play the lead roles of Elphaba and Glinda…
The roles of Glinda and Elphaba have been without a doubt the hardest for me to cast. My first thought was to cast Lady Gaga as Elphaba, and Kristen Bell as Glinda. However the more I thought about it, the more I fell in love with the idea of having two unknown actresses cast the lead roles. Why not give two up-and-comers a chance with an otherwise star-studded cast?!
Who makes your cast list? Let’s discuss it in the comments below!
