Honestly, the hype for the cast of Wicked 2024 felt like it was everywhere for three years straight before the first frame even hit theaters. You couldn't scroll through TikTok without seeing a green-tinted teaser or a snippet of a high note. But now that we've had time to actually live with these performances—and with the second part, Wicked: For Good, having recently hit screens in late 2025—it’s easier to look back and see who actually nailed the impossible task of stepping into such iconic shoes.
Expectations were sky-high. Like, "Defying Gravity" high.
When Jon M. Chu first announced he was splitting Gregory Maguire’s sprawling Oz epic into two films, fans were worried. Would it feel stretched thin? Would the actors handle the vocal gymnastics required by Stephen Schwartz’s score? Most importantly, would the chemistry between a pop titan like Ariana Grande and a Broadway powerhouse like Cynthia Erivo actually work, or would it just be two stars competing for oxygen?
The Power Duo: Erivo and Grande
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba wasn't just a casting choice; it was a statement. Erivo, who already has a Tony under her belt for The Color Purple, brought a grounded, almost raw vulnerability to the "Wicked Witch." She didn’t just play a misunderstood girl; she played a revolutionary. In interviews, she’s talked about the "muscularity" she had to build into her voice to handle the score. It shows. When she hits those final notes in "Defying Gravity," it isn't just pretty singing. It’s a literal scream of independence.
Then you have Ariana Grande.
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People were skeptical. They really were.
They saw "pop star" and thought the role of Glinda the Good (originally Galinda Upland) would be a "Dangerous Woman" remix. Instead, Grande leaned into her theater roots. She basically transformed her entire vocal placement, opting for a legitimate soprano sound that sounds more like 1950s MGM than modern Top 40. Her "Popular" is frantic, hilarious, and deeply self-aware. She plays Glinda as someone whose "goodness" is a mask she’s desperately trying to keep from slipping.
The two of them together? It’s the heart of the movie. Their real-life friendship, which they’ve posted about incessantly, actually translates to the screen. You believe they love each other, which makes the inevitable fallout in the second half of the story actually hurt.
Beyond the Witches: The Supporting Cast of Wicked 2024
The ensemble is where things get really interesting. We finally got a Fiyero who feels like he has more than two brain cells (ironic, given his eventual fate as the Scarecrow). Jonathan Bailey, fresh off his Bridgerton fame, plays the Winkie prince with exactly the right amount of "himbo" energy that masks a genuinely soulful person. He manages to be the guy both girls want without making the audience roll their eyes.
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Then there’s the Wizard.
Jeff Goldblum was a wild choice on paper. In execution? He’s terrifyingly eccentric. This isn't the bumbling old man from the 1939 film. Goldblum’s Wizard is a master manipulator. He’s a con man who’s grown paranoid, surrounding himself with magnifying glasses and spies. He uses his "Goldblum-isms"—the pauses, the staccato delivery—to make the character’s lack of actual magic feel like a dangerous secret he’s willing to kill to keep.
The Faculty and Friends at Shiz University
- Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible: Coming off an Oscar win, Yeoh didn't need to do a musical, but she’s clearly having a blast. She plays Morrible as a Dean of Sorcery who is essentially the Wizard's Press Secretary. The way she flips her initials "M.M." to "W.W." (Wicked Witch) became a massive meme for a reason.
- Ethan Slater as Boq: Best known for SpongeBob SquarePants on Broadway, Slater plays the Munchkin with a tragic, unrequited love for Glinda. His transformation into the Tin Man in the sequel is one of the more heartbreaking practical effects sequences in the series.
- Marissa Bode as Nessarose: This was a huge win for representation. Bode, a wheelchair user herself, plays Elphaba’s sister. It adds a layer of reality to the character's frustration and eventual descent into becoming the Wicked Witch of the East.
- Peter Dinklage as Dr. Dillamond: Providing the voice for the Goat professor, Dinklage brings a gravitas to the "Animal Rights" subplot that often gets glossed over in shorter stage productions.
Why the Casting Worked (and Why Some Hated It)
Not everyone was happy. Purists felt the movie leaned too hard into celebrity power.
Some critics argued that Bowen Yang (playing Pfannee) and Bronwyn James (playing ShenShen) were underutilized in the first film. However, Jon M. Chu revealed that their roles were actually trimmed to keep the focus on Glinda’s internal journey. In the second part, we see them as Glinda’s aides in the Emerald City, and they get a bit more to do as the "conscience" of the students who realize too late that the Wizard is a fraud.
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The film's box office—raking in over $750 million worldwide for Part 1 alone—suggests the audience didn't mind the "star power." By the time Wicked: For Good finished its run in early 2026, the two-part experiment was solidified as a massive financial success.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Viewers
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world the cast of Wicked 2024 created, there are a few things you should check out to get the full picture:
- Watch the "Making Wicked" Extras: Ethan Slater actually revealed he played the Wizard in high school. Seeing his journey from a school play to the big screen is a trip.
- Listen to the Soundtrack Evolution: Compare Grande’s Glinda to the original cast recording. Notice the change in vocal technique; it’s a masterclass in how to adapt pop vocals for the stage.
- Look for the Cameos: Keep your eyes peeled for Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. They’re in there, but it’s subtle. It feels like a "passing of the broom" moment.
- Re-read the Book: The movie takes a lot from Gregory Maguire’s original 1995 novel that the Broadway show skipped, especially regarding the political climate of Oz and the "Animal" oppression.
The 2024 adaptation managed to do something rare: it honored the source material while letting the actors breathe their own life into characters we thought we knew. Whether you're Team Elphaba or Team Glinda, it's hard to deny that this ensemble changed the way we look at Oz.
Next Steps for Your Wicked Journey
To fully appreciate the performances, you can now stream the "Behind the Emerald Curtain" documentary on major platforms, which features raw rehearsal footage of Erivo and Grande's first "For Good" duet. You can also track the cast's upcoming projects, as many are reuniting for a 2026 concert series celebrating the music of Stephen Schwartz.