If you just walked out of the theater after watching Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande defy gravity, you probably noticed a very specific, silver-slipper-shaped hole in the plot. It’s the question everyone is asking: who is Dorothy in Wicked Part 2? Honestly, it’s kinda wild how long the production kept the casting under wraps. For a while, rumors were flying around TikTok that it might be a cameo from a massive pop star or maybe a complete unknown. But as we look toward the second half of this massive cinematic event, the role of Dorothy Gale isn’t just a cameo. It’s the bridge between the Prequel world and the 1939 classic we all grew up with.
Dorothy is the catalyst.
Without her, Elphaba’s story doesn't reach its tragic, messy, beautiful conclusion. In the stage musical, she’s famously a silhouette—a bucket-wielding shadow that represents the "outside world" crashing into Oz. But Jon M. Chu isn't just making a stage play on film. He’s expanding the lore. That means we finally get to see the farm girl from Kansas in the flesh.
The Mystery of Dorothy’s Casting in the Wicked Sequel
For the longest time, the production team was incredibly secretive. They didn't want the "Dorothy reveal" to overshadow the central relationship between Elphaba and Glinda. It makes sense. This is their movie, not hers. However, the casting of a young actor to play Dorothy Gale was a necessity once the decision was made to split the story into two parts. In Wicked Part 2, Dorothy serves as the unwitting antagonist to Elphaba’s "Wicked Witch" persona.
The film introduces us to a version of Dorothy that feels grounded. She isn't a superhero. She's a confused kid who just dropped a house on a lady.
Think about it from Elphaba's perspective for a second. You've spent years fighting for animal rights, dealing with the Wizard's propaganda, and losing your reputation. Then, out of nowhere, some girl in pigtails falls from the sky and kills your sister. That's not a fairy tale; that's a nightmare. The movie leans into this friction. It treats Dorothy not as a hero, but as a complication.
Why Dorothy Gale Matters More in the Movie Than the Stage Play
In the Broadway show, Dorothy is basically a plot device. You hear her crying behind a door. You see her shadow. You never really know her. The movie changes the game by giving her actual screen time. This is crucial because Wicked Part 2 has to bridge the gap to the events of The Wizard of Oz.
We see the arrival. We see the house landing in Munchkinland. But more importantly, we see how Glinda uses Dorothy.
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Glinda, played by Ariana Grande, is a master of PR. By the time Dorothy arrives, Glinda has become the "Good Witch" and is basically the face of the Wizard's regime. She sees this kid from Kansas as a perfect opportunity to further her own image while trying (and failing) to protect Elphaba. It’s a messy political triangle. Dorothy is caught in the middle of a civil war she doesn't understand.
Gregory Maguire’s original novel, which the movie draws from more heavily than the musical does in certain spots, paints Dorothy as a bit of a blank slate. She’s "the innocent." But in the context of Oz's political corruption, innocence is dangerous. The movie highlights that. When we talk about who is Dorothy in Wicked Part 2, we’re talking about a girl who represents the end of an era for Oz.
The Silver Slippers vs. The Ruby Slippers
Let's get technical for a second. If you're a die-hard fan of the 1939 movie, you're used to the ruby slippers. But Wicked is technically based on the book, where the shoes are silver. This has been a huge point of contention and interest for fans.
The movie handles this with a bit of a wink to the audience.
The shoes are a source of immense power. In Wicked Part 2, the quest for the shoes isn't just about Dorothy wanting to get home. It’s about Elphaba trying to reclaim the last piece of her sister, Nessarose. The shoes are the primary motivation for Elphaba's "villainous" turn in the eyes of the public. When she goes after Dorothy, she isn't trying to be mean. She’s grieving.
The film does a great job of showing the cultural divide. To the Munchkins, Dorothy is a liberator. To Elphaba, she’s a thief who is literally wearing her sister’s remains. It’s dark. It’s way more nuanced than the "I'll get you, my pretty" vibes we’re used to.
Breaking Down the "Melt" Scene
Everyone knows how the story ends. Or do they?
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One of the biggest theories heading into the release was how they would handle the melting scene. Since Wicked is a "re-imagining," we know Elphaba survives. But Dorothy doesn't know that. The interaction between the two characters in the final act of the sequel is the emotional peak of the film.
It’s scripted with such tension. Dorothy is terrified. She’s been told her whole life that this woman is the definition of evil. Meanwhile, Elphaba is tired. She’s ready to disappear. The "melting" becomes a staged exit, a way for Elphaba to escape the spotlight and the labels. Dorothy is the witness she needs.
The acting in these sequences is top-tier. You really feel for Dorothy. She’s a child who has been manipulated by the Wizard and Glinda, used as a weapon to take out a "dissident." When she throws that water, it's an act of desperation, not malice.
The Visual Evolution of Dorothy Gale
Jon M. Chu opted for a look that pays homage to the 1939 aesthetic but with a modern, high-definition twist. The gingham is there, but the colors are desaturated to show how out of place she is in the vibrant, neon-coded world of Oz.
When Dorothy finally appears, the cinematography shifts. The camera angles become more grounded. It feels less like a dream and more like a reality check. It’s a brilliant way to signal that the "Golden Age" of Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship is over and the gritty reality of the Wizard's downfall has begun.
Key Takeaways for Fans
If you're heading into the theater or just finished your first watch, keep these things in mind about Dorothy's role:
- She isn't the lead. Don't expect the movie to become The Wizard of Oz remake. It stays firmly rooted in the perspective of the witches.
- The shoes matter. Pay attention to how the slippers are filmed. They are treated like a character in themselves, glowing with an internal, almost radioactive light.
- The connection to Fiyero. There’s a heartbreaking moment where Dorothy interacts with the Scarecrow. If you know the lore of Wicked, you know that's Fiyero. The movie plays this for maximum emotional damage.
- Glinda's guilt. Watch Ariana Grande's performance when Dorothy is around. You can see the wheels turning. She knows she’s sending this girl into a trap, and it eats at her.
What This Means for the Future of the Franchise
Is this the end? Probably not. The success of the Wicked films almost guarantees that we might see a more direct remake of The Wizard of Oz from this specific creative perspective. Seeing Dorothy’s journey through the lens of a world where the "Wicked" witch was actually a revolutionary changes everything.
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It makes the 1939 movie feel like a propaganda film made by the Wizard himself.
That’s the brilliance of what they’ve done here. They’ve taken a character we’ve known for nearly a century and made her feel brand new by simply changing the lighting. Dorothy isn't the hero; she's the unintended consequence of a much larger story.
To truly understand the impact of her arrival, you have to look at the state of Oz at that moment. The animals have been silenced. The Wizard is losing his grip on power. The citizens are desperate for a miracle. Then, a girl falls from the sky. It's the perfect storm. Dorothy is the "Great and Powerful" distraction the Wizard needed to keep the people from looking at the man behind the curtain.
If you want to dive deeper into the lore, I’d highly recommend picking up the original Gregory Maguire novel. It’s much darker than the movie, but it provides a lot of the political context that makes Dorothy’s arrival so significant. You’ll never look at a pair of silver slippers the same way again.
Check out the official soundtrack too—the way they weave "Over the Rainbow" motifs into Elphaba's themes is subtle but will absolutely give you chills. It’s a masterclass in musical storytelling that honors the past while firmly planting its feet in the present.
Go back and watch the 1939 film right after seeing Wicked Part 2. It is a completely surreal experience. You'll find yourself rooting for the "villain" and questioning every move the "good" characters make. That's the power of a good perspective shift. Oz is a lot more complicated than Kansas ever told us.