Nearly one year after the first film swept the nation, the highly-anticipated conclusion to the two-part film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical Wicked is just weeks away.
But for many dedicated fans, excitement for the new film has now turned to frustration after actress Marissa Bode branded the original narrative as ‘outdated’ while discussing a major change coming to the second movie.
Bode recently revealed to Go Magazine that her character in the new flick Wicked: For Good – which will hit theaters on November 21 – will have a significant difference than the character in the show it’s based off of.
But her comments divided fans; while many supported the update, some worried how it will affect the overall plot – and were not happy that she dissed the play during the interview.
The actress, who became paralyzed following a car crash at age 11 and has used a wheelchair since, plays Elphaba’s sister Nessarose in the movies, who was born with a disability and is wheelchair-bound.
Bode explained in the new interview that instead of her character’s biggest wish being able to walk like in the Broadway show, in the films, ‘her ultimate true desire is love.’
In the stage version, Elphaba uses her magic to help Nessarose walk, but in the movie, Elphaba will cast a magic spell onto Nessarose’s slippers, which will make her fly.
‘I am so happy with the change, the old narrative was outdated, and I’ll be honest, it was really fun to fly through the air on set,’ Bode said.
Nearly one year after the first film swept the nation, the highly-anticipated conclusion to the two-part film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical Wicked is just weeks away
Many fans were not happy that actress Marissa Bode branded the original narrative as ‘outdated’ while discussing a major change coming to the second movie
‘Overall, the shift makes a lot of sense to me, considering [the theme of the movie that] “everyone deserves a chance to fly.”‘
Many people were not happy that the movie is straying from the show or that Bode called the original story ‘outdated’ and took to X to share their frustrations.
‘I mean I get where she’s coming from and yes everyone does deserve a chance to fly but changing the narrative to her flying basically ruins Dorothy’s narrative,’ one user pointed out.
‘If the shoes themselves made Nessa fly and she wasn’t a witch or had any power, wouldn’t the shoes also make Dorothy fly?’
‘How are they gonna excuse Dorothy not being able to fly?’ asked another user.
‘What a useless change,’ scathed someone else. ‘That’s just bad and plot hole-y.’
‘Can we just be happy for the change without bashing the original and calling it outdated when in the first place it would make sense in the story?’ a fourth post read.
A fifth said, ‘I’ll be real here. In the real world we cant fly. But disable people wish everyday to walk again. And there is literally nothing wrong with that. This change is actually… very much meaningless.
In the stage version, Elphaba uses her magic to help Nessarose walk, but in the movie, Elphaba will cast a magic spell onto Nessarose’s slippers, which will make her fly
While many supported the update, some worried how it will affect the overall plot – and were not happy that she dissed the play during the interview
‘I understand fly is more fitting cuz the actress cant walk. But saying is outdated a disability person thinking of want to walk again is such a petty excuse.’
‘I don’t think it’s outdated to think an emotionally immature woman such as this character wouldn’t want to be able to walk instead of growing to accept her disability as a part of her,’ wrote another user.
‘I don’t like that she said it’s old narrative was outdated. It’s wonderful scene in actual show production,’ a different fan penned.
Others supported the change, however, with one branding it as a ‘beautiful update,’
‘I love this,’ gushed another. ‘It has never sat right with me to make the character in the wheelchair walk and to imply that she needs “fixing.”‘
‘It’s funny how no one seems to have a single issue with any of the other changes made for the movie but when it’s one small insignificant thing that makes it less ableist and allows for an actual disabled person to play the role, THEN everyone gets their panties in a twist…’ pointed out someone else.
‘I was really wondering how they were gonna do the “walk” thing, I’m so glad they changed it, it’s much better,’ said a different fan.
‘Oh my God, that is so cool! I can’t wait!’ gushed one user.
‘It doesn’t change the story and makes it more inclusive, plus it makes sense with the theme. Love it,’ read another post.