UNITED STATES – JUNE 06: Leading Actress in a Musical Idina Menzel (left) shares a broom with her “Wicked” co-star and co-nominee Kristin Chenoweth at the 58th annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall. (Photo by Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
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Wicked: For Good, the sequel to 2024’s Wicked, is new in theaters this weekend. See photos of who played the main characters in the original production and who plays them in the Wicked movies.
A prequel story set before The Wizard of Oz that eventually intertwines with the original book-turned-movie tale, Wicked debuted as a Broadway musical in New York City on Oct. 30, 2003, following its three-week preview run that began on Oct. 8.
Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for Wicked, while Winnie Holzman wrote the book for the musical. Holzman’s book for the musical is an adaptation of author Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.
Directed by Wicked filmmaker Jon M. Chu, Wicked: For Good, which plays in Thursday previews before opening in theaters nationwide on Friday, completes the two-movie adaptation of the Broadway musical.
See the photos below of the core characters from Broadway’s Wicked and their big-screen counterparts.
NEW YORK – JUNE 6: (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) American singer and actress Idina Menzel of “Wicked” performs on stage during the “58th Annual Tony Awards” at Radio City Music Hall on June 6, 2004 in New York City. The Tony Awards are presented by the League of American Theatres and Producers and the American Theatre Wing. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
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Idina Menzel (Elphaba)
Idina Menzel played Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, in the original Broadway version of Wicked. The role earned Menzel a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and nominations in the same category from the Drama Desk Awards and Outer Critics Circle Awards.
Cynthia Erivo in “Wicked: For Good.”
Universal Pictures
Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba)
Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba in Wicked and Wicked: For Good. Erivo earned Best Actress nominations from the Oscars, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Critics Choice Awards, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards and the Golden Globes (Musical or Comedy) for her performance in Wicked.
Kristin Chenoweth from “Wicked” in 2004. (Photo by Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)
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Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda)
Kristin Chenoweth starred as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, in the original Broadway production of Wicked. The role earned Chenoweth Best Actress in a Musical nominations from the Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards and Outer Critics Circle Awards.
Ariana Grande in “Wicked: For Good.”
Universal Pictures
Ariana Grande (Glinda)
Ariana Grande stars as Glinda in Wicked and Wicked: For Good. Grande’s work in Wicked earned her Best Supporting Actress nominations from the Oscars, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Critics Choice Awards, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards and the Golden Globes (Musical or Comedy).
(From L) US actress and singer Idina Menzel, British actress and singer Cynthia Erivo, US singer-songwriter and actress Ariana Grande and US actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth attend the Los Angeles premiere of Universal Pictures’ “Wicked” at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillon, in Los Angeles, November 9, 2024. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
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Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth made cameo appearances in the movie version of Wicked in 2024 and attended the Los Angeles premiere of the film with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
Joel Grey “Wicked” photo from 2004. *Exclusive* ***Exclusive*** (Photo by Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)
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Joel Grey (The Wizard)
Joel Grey played The Wizard in the Broadway version of Wicked. Grey was nominated for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance in Wicked by the Outer Critics Circle Awards.
Jeff Goldblum in “Wicked: For Good.”
Universal Pictures
Jeff Goldblum (The Wizard)
Jeff Goldblum stars as The Wizard in Wicked and Wicked: For Good.
Carole Shelley, Kristin Chenoweth, Joel Grey, and Idina Menzel and Flying Monkey (Photo by Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)
FilmMagic
Carole Shelley (Madame Morrible)
Carole Shelley played Madame Morrible in the original Broadway version of Wicked. Shelley was nominated for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in Wicked by the Outer Critics Circle Awards.
Michelle Yeoh in “Wicked.”
Universal Pictures
Michelle Yeoh (Madame Morrible)
Michelle Yeoh plays Madame Morrible in Wicked and Wicked: For Good.
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 30: (US TABS AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Actor Norbert Leo Butz (Fiyero) attends the afterparty For the Broadway premiere of “Wicked” at Tavern On The Green October 30, 2003 in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Peyton/Getty Images)
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Norbert Leo Butz (Fiyero)
Norbert Leo Butz played Fiyero in the original Broadway production of Wicked.
Jonathan Bailey’s “Wicked: For Good” character poster of Fiyero.
Universal Pictures
Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero)
Jonathan Bailey plays Fiyero in Wicked and Wicked: For Good. Bailey received an Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role nomination for his work in Wicked from the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Rated PG, Wicked: For Good plays in Thursday previews and opens in theaters nationwide on Friday.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/timlammers/2025/11/20/photos-wicked-broadway-cast-vs-cast-of-wicked-movies/
