125 Years Later, Wicked: For Good Restores a Wizard of Oz Detail That the Classic Movie Changed

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The movie Wicked: For Good offers a compelling new perspective on the story told in the classic 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz. Although the Wicked movies aren’t directly connected to the original musical or film – they’re based on a novel that reimagines the book, not the movie – it’s still fascinating to compare the two. Be aware that the following contains spoilers for Wicked: For Good.

The next movie, coming out in 2025, will show how Boq and Fiyero become the Tin Man and Scarecrow, respectively – both accidentally transformed by Elphaba’s spells, which she meant to help with. We’ll also see Dorothy Gale arrive in Oz, brought there by a storm created by Madame Morrible. Though we don’t see her face, Dorothy and her dog are important to the story, just like in The Wizard of Oz, seemingly defeating the Wicked Witch. However, even with a smaller role, there are some key differences, particularly regarding what Dorothy wears on her feet.

Why Dorothy’s Shoes Are Silver, Not Ruby Red, In Wicked: For Good

Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz are the most famous and valuable movie shoes ever made – a pair recently sold for over $28 million! So, it’s surprising that in Wicked: For Good, Dorothy wears silver shoes instead. This change was hinted at in the original Wicked, but it’s much more noticeable and important to the story in this new version.

This isn’t simply a change for the 1939 film; it actually returns to the original story written by Frank L. Baum. In his 1900 book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s shoes are described as silver. The movie changed them to ruby red to take full advantage of the Technicolor filming process, making the shoes stand out vividly against the yellow brick road. The core story elements – the shoes belonging to the Wicked Witch of the East, being given to Dorothy by Glinda, and their power to transport her home – remained the same. However, the film added one difference: in the movie, the shoes can only be removed after the wearer dies.

As a huge film fan, I really appreciated the little nod to The Wizard of Oz in Wicked: For Good – it’s so clever how the silver shoes start to turn red when Elphaba uses magic on Nessarose! It’s a clear visual reference. But honestly, the movie left me with a couple of questions. It never explains how Glinda knew Dorothy was the right person to receive the shoes, or exactly how Dorothy managed to get back home after her adventures in Oz. Those felt like little pieces missing from the puzzle.

Who Plays Dorothy In Wicked: For Good & Why Her Face Is Never Shown

I was so excited to learn the full cast for Wicked: For Good, and a big question mark was always who would play Dorothy. It’s now confirmed it’s Bethany Weaver, a talented actress, dancer, and choreographer who’s already made a name for herself on the West End stage. What’s really cool is this is her first ever movie role! She actually hinted at it way back in 2022 – she posted a video of herself singing “The Wizard and I” on Instagram with the caption, “aggressively manifesting that one day I will be in Wicked!” It’s amazing to see that dream come true!

The character of Weaver wears the silver shoes and the blue-and-white gingham dress, but her face is never seen on screen. This decision was made to stay true to the stage musical, where Dorothy is only shown as a silhouette, and to keep the focus on Glinda and Elphaba. Director Jon M. Chu also explained that they didn’t want to interfere with each viewer’s existing image of Dorothy.

You can now see Wicked: For Good in movie theaters. If you prefer to watch at home, Wicked is available on Prime Video, and The Wizard of Oz is streaming on HBO Max.

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2025-11-24 22:12