When it comes tolong-awaited films, there are few movies with as much anticipation asWicked. Inspired byGregory Maguire’s best-selling novel, it became a cultural juggernaut when it transitioned to the Broadway stage. Now, one can’t talk aboutthe Wicked Witch of the Westwithout talking about Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda/Glinda (Ariana Grande). Whilethe massive filmhas brought Oz’s witches to life like never before, it’s Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) who’s most benefitted from thestage-to-screen transition.
‘Wicked’ Twists on Fiyero’s Flirtatious Side
Fiyero’s roots can be traced back to authorL. Frank Baum’s original Oz lore, though the Winkie Prince himself is Maguire’s creation. On stage, Fiyero is a lovable troublemaker who flirts, and of course,dances, his way through life. The big screen version ofWickedhonors this while adding a uniquely wonderful twist to his Lothario nature. When Fiyero arrives in the show, he charms Galinda in a very similar way to what he does on screen, butFiyero’s actions in the movie aren’t solely to impress Galinda. Rather, he is out to create a real sense of joy foreveryone, an effort that is made clearthroughhis flirtation. While an ensemble number on Broadway, his stage counterpart spends the whole of the song with Galinda, where the film has him flirt and dance with a multitude of Shiz students to help them celebrate life.
Are Original ‘Wicked’ Musical Stars Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel in the Movie?
Will the original Broadway stars make an appearance in the movie?
While Fiyero mirrors some ofcinema’s most iconic “bad boys,”one of the best changes the movie makes is his sexual ambiguity. He shares his seductive side with all of his fellow students, no matter their gender. And, what’s more, he genuinely enjoys it, sharing some of his steamiest flirtations with male cohorts. It’s a wonderful way to not only shake up the archetype but also makes Fiyero himself feel more fleshed out. But the greatest alteration comes from his relationship with Elphaba.
Elphaba Reveals That Bailey’s Fiyero Is Deeper Than He Seems
On stage, Fiyero starts to show depth in the second act, butWickeddoesn’t make audiences wait forthe second filmto see that there is more to the character. Both of Fiyero’s scenes with Elphaba exist on stage, but Bailey and Erivo fill their interactions with nuance. Both actors give their first meeting new meaning with the screen version. The musical usually plays this moment as an unpleasant introduction, but Erivo and Bailey play the scene as an undeniable flirtation. It’s a fantastic way to set upElphaba’s upcoming conflictand solidify the complication that brews below Fiyero’s surface. Bailey brings a boyish charm to the scene that makes it clear he is undeniably taken with Elphaba (the first person in the film to be so), and he continues to add depth to the character after he and Elphaba free the imprisoned lion cub.
She gets under his skin in a way no one else can. While many in Shiz lust for Fiyero, no one can see his internal unhappiness except for her. When she touches him,Bailey shifts his performance and makes it clear that she is the first person to make Fiyero really look within and question what he wants out of life. It’s a beautiful way to foreshadow the conflict he will continue to face in the second part ofWickedand pulls on the heartstrings of moviegoers. He immediately goes from a lovable flirt to a relatable, deeply complicated young man who just might find himself in the woman whowill eventually be perceived as Oz’s greatest villain.
Indeed, there is no denying thatWickedhas used its new medium to reinvent Fiyero.From twisting an age-old archetype to Bailey’s fantastically intricate performance, he’s become a far more interesting version of the character. As audiences anticipate the next installment, it’s safe to say that Fiyero is set up for even more exploration.
Wickedis now playing in theaters.
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The story of how a green-skinned woman framed by the Wizard of Oz becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. The first of a two-part feature film adaptation of the Broadway musical.
