Finding out who stars in the movie Wicked is kinda like realizing your favorite childhood book is finally getting a high-budget treatment—it's both thrilling and a little terrifying. You want the voices to be right. You want the chemistry to sizzle. Most of all, you want Elphaba to actually feel like she could melt the world with a glare.
Jon M. Chu didn't just cast famous people; he basically assembled a theater nerd's fever dream. The movie, split into two massive chapters (the first released in late 2024 and the finale, Wicked: For Good, hitting theaters in November 2025), relies entirely on the shoulders of its two leads.
And honestly? They nailed it.
The Powerhouse Leads: Erivo and Grande
When it was first announced that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande would be our Elphaba and Glinda, the internet did what it does best: it had a collective meltdown. But if you've seen the films, you know the vocal range here is almost offensive.
Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba Thropp. She’s an EGOT-adjacent powerhouse who already won a Tony for The Color Purple. She brings a grounded, almost raw vulnerability to the "wicked" witch. She isn't just a girl with green skin; she’s a political revolutionary in the making.
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Then you have Ariana Grande as Glinda (or Galinda, with a "ga"). People forget she started on Broadway in the musical 13. She isn't just "Pop Star Ariana" here. She leans into the high-soprano requirements of the role with a comedic timing that’s surprisingly sharp. She plays the "blonde" archetype but adds layers of genuine conflict as she realizes her popularity comes at a steep moral cost.
The Shiz University Supporting Players
The halls of Shiz University are crowded with some pretty heavy hitters. It’s not just a two-woman show.
- Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero: The Bridgerton star was basically born to play a shallow prince who eventually finds a brain. He’s got that "carefree Winkie prince" energy down to a science.
- Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible: Coming off her Oscar win, Yeoh brings a terrifying elegance to the Dean of Sorcery. She’s not a cartoon villain; she’s a master manipulator.
- Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard: This might be the most "Goldblum" role ever. He plays the Wizard as a charismatic, slightly bumbling conman who is secretly pulling the strings of a police state. It's weirdly perfect.
- Ethan Slater as Boq: Known for his Tony-nominated turn as SpongeBob, Slater plays the munchkin whose unrequited love for Glinda leads to a pretty dark transformation.
- Marissa Bode as Nessarose: In a move for authentic representation, the production cast Bode, who uses a wheelchair in real life, to play Elphaba's sister. It adds a level of realism to the character's physical and emotional struggles that was sometimes glossed over in stage productions.
The Voices Behind the Animals
One of the biggest questions regarding who stars in the movie Wicked involved the talking animals. Since the film expands on the political "Animal" subplot from Gregory Maguire’s book, these roles matter.
Peter Dinklage provides the voice for Dr. Dillamond, the goat professor who first warns Elphaba that "something is bad in the state of Oz." His gravelly, dignified tone makes the tragedy of his character hit much harder than a puppet on stage ever could.
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In the second film, Wicked: For Good, we even get Colman Domingo voicing the Cowardly Lion. Seeing the transformation from the cub Elphaba saves in the first movie to the lion we know from the 1939 classic is one of the more rewarding narrative loops in the sequel.
Cameos for the OGs
You can't make a Wicked movie without paying rent to the women who started it all.
During the "One Short Day" sequence in the Emerald City, eagle-eyed fans will spot Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. They appear as members of the Emerald City Players. It's a passing-of-the-torch moment that feels earned rather than forced. They aren't playing their original characters—that would be confusing—but their presence is a literal "thank you" to the 2003 Broadway cast.
Why This Cast Works for the Long Haul
Splitting the movie into two parts was a gamble. It meant the actors had to sustain these characters for a massive, multi-year production cycle.
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The chemistry between Erivo and Grande is the "For Good" of the title. They famously got matching tattoos. They did the entire press tour like they were joined at the hip. That real-life friendship translates into the heartbreak of the second film when they are forced onto opposite sides of a magical war.
If you’re planning a rewatch or heading into the theater for the first time, keep an eye on Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James as Pfannee and ShenShen. They provide the "mean girl" Greek chorus that makes Glinda’s early social climbing feel so frantic.
To truly appreciate the depth of this production, you should look back at the original 2003 Broadway cast recordings and compare the phrasing. Notice how Erivo handles the lower registers in "I'm Not That Girl" versus Menzel’s more belt-heavy approach. It shows how the movie isn't trying to replace the musical; it's trying to exist as its own, more intimate beast. Check out the official soundtrack on Spotify or Apple Music to hear those nuances before you see the finale.