The long-anticipated Wicked movie is less than 80 days away! Ahead of the second official trailer, Universal has released character posters to help better introduce us to the iconic witches and other important Ozians — and perhaps a hint of what may be happening in Oz.
Elphaba: The Wicked Witch
She may be a wicked witch, but Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is the shining star of the show in her character poster. Full of details, from her broomstick to her outfit to the grass she walks on, the poster is magnificent and does a great job at establishing the character in the iconic setting. The Emerald City and the Wizard’s palace are clearly visible in the background with flying monkeys scattered across the sky. And what’s Oz without the yellow brick road? For those who aren’t familiar with the Ozian prequel to Dorothy’s tale, the yellow brick road firmly places the Wicked movie in the Wizard of Oz universe.
Glinda the Good
We can’t all come and go by bubble, but what better way to feature Glinda the Good (Ariana Grande) herself? The iconography for Glinda’s character poster is perfection. From the pink dress, the wand, crown and regal seat, everything is so lavish. We’d expect nothing less for the girl who was promised an entire suite to herself! Not much is going on in the background besides a glimpse of what appears to be the Wizard’s palace, but that makes sense. Glinda loves to be the center of attention, and this Wicked movie poster does just that.
Fiyero: The Winkie Prince Who’s So Scandalacious
If you aren’t already in love with a Jonathan Bailey character — or the actor himself — wait until you get to watch Fiyero! His character poster certainly speaks to Fiyero’s magnetizing demeanor and personality with his cheeky facial expression inviting viewers into the world of Oz. The dark and cool blue tones of the poster definitely give some mysterious vibes, adding to the intrigue of the Winkie prince. In the background behind his royal horse seems to be the woods or some sort of forest-like area beyond Shiz University. We don’t know for sure how the scenes from the stage musical match up, but Fiyero definitely has significant scenes outdoors.
Madame Morrible: The Magical Headmistress
Whether you’re familiar with the headmistress of Shiz University, Madame Morrible’s (Michelle Yeoh) poster is definitely magical, mystical and fantastic. It’s totally fitting for the character who helps Elphaba channel her witchcraft. By having the headmistress stir up wind and summon some lightning sparks, it’s clear the Wicked movie’s creative team wants that to be highlighted in the promo on the road to the film’s release. If you know, you know. If not, you’ll just have to wait and see!
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
It’s all grand, and it’s all green in The Wizard’s (Jeff Goldblum) Emerald City and character poster! Anyone familiar with The Wizard of Oz in any capacity will understand the body language and gestures in the poster. It’s no secret he’s sly, cunning and wants power.
Boq: A Mere Munchkin
Now, we’re really getting to the more niche characters. No one named Boq (Ethan Slater) is in The Wizard of Oz. Boq is important in the story, but understandably, the Wicked team doesn’t want to give too much away. From this poster, we get a bit of a silly vibe with the smile and one-legged pose on the stack of books. The books are definitely purposeful as Boq is short, being a Munchkin from Munchkinland. At a glance, the background isn’t giving much, but if you’ve seen the musical and/or read Gregory Maguire’s books, pay attention to what’s on the two carts in the background. No spoilers, so that’s all we’ll say!
The Tragically Beautiful Nessarose
The sister of the wicked witch herself, Nessarose (Marissa Bode) comes off as very sweet, innocent and unassuming in her character poster, which pretty much tracks with how she’s introduced in the stage musical. Her poster shows off her very cool and ornate Ozian wheelchair — we love the representation! — complete with a velvet-lined ring on her wheels to keep her comfortable when wheeling around. It looks so luxurious, which makes sense as she is the governor’s favorite daughter. Not much goes on in the background, allowing Nessa and her wheelchair to shine — literally. We also get a first glimpse at her Shiz shoes, which also look elegant, tied up nicely with a bow and paired with pretty patterned socks. Take from that what you will…
Classmates and Confidantes: ShenShen and Pfannee
Even fans of the hit Broadway musical aren’t necessarily familiar with these two, as they’re in the books but not the stage adaptation. We know from previous promos, features and trailers that they’re Glinda’s friends from Shiz, so it makes sense for them to also have luggage. But we’re not really sure what to make of it all. Maybe they have a lot of baggage? Because they’re definitely not Glinda’s trunks. No pink monograms are in sight. ShenShen’s poster (Bronwyn James) has significantly more luggage than Pfannee (Bowen Yang), so who knows? Only time will tell!
The Goat: Doctor Dillamond
Last, but certainly not least, is the beloved Shiz professor Doctor Dillamond (Peter Dinklage). It’s fitting for his character poster to be set in his classroom, where there’s lots to see. We can see Shiz students in the background, a few chalkboards, books and papers on the floor and a rolling cart with something covered on it. No spoilers, but maybe try to remember some of those things in Dillamond’s classroom come November…
Part one of the Wicked movie is in theaters Nov. 22.
