A major change is coming to Wicked: For Good, which is set for release on November 21. The upcoming sequel will feature a significant shift in one character’s storyline.
In an interview with GoMag, Marissa Bode, known for her role as Nessarose in Wicked, has spoken out about her character’s storyline changing. In the original story, Nessarose’s greatest wish is the ability to walk. However, in the film adaptation, they are switching things up, and her wish is simply love.
After feedback from the disabled community, Winnie Holzman, writer of Wicked on Broadway and co-writer of the film’s screenplay, contacted Bode about the change and stated that she will fly rather than walk, which is vastly different from that of the stage adaptation.
Bode reacted to the news and was very happy with the change, stating, “The old narrative was outdated, and I’ll be honest, it was really fun to fly through the air on set.” According to Bode, “the shift makes a lot of sense to me, considering ‘everyone deserves a chance to fly.’”
Wicked: For Good is the final installment of the movie adaptation following Wicked (2024). The film was adapted for the screen following its success on Broadway and originally came from the novels written by Gregory Maguire.
The film Wicked: For Good follows Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) as they go their separate ways following the revelation that the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) is a fraud, but must decide once and for all where their loyalties lie. It has already broken records, having the highest first-day pre-sale tickets sold of all time for a PG-rated movie.
Bode’s appearance in the Wicked franchise has been applauded, and she was thankful for the chance to represent her disability. “I would love to see more people with disabilities cast in roles that don’t just focus on the disability, because that’s just our everyday,” Bode shared in her interview.
The change in Nessarose’s storyline won’t make a huge impact on the overall story, as Nessarose was always destined to have a tragic ending. Nessarose meets her untimely end when Dorothy’s farmhouse crashes into her in Munchkinland. This is the iconic moment when Dorothy receives the all-important red ruby slippers, which are now silver bejeweled heels in the movie in a nod to the original Wonderful Wizard of Oz novel by L. Frank Baum.
Bode has previously appeared in stage productions such as Little Shop of Horrors and Mary Poppins. While she has no immediate plans for additional film projects, her performance in Wicked: For Good could open the door to future opportunities.
