Notice! This post contains SPOILERS for WickedAlthough Evil is focused prominently on the relationship between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande), The Wizard of Oz’ Dorothy has a small cameo. Despite being the main character The Wizard of OzDorothy’s time in the spotlight is quite limited in 2024 Eviland the same thing happens in the original Broadway musical production with a very small spotlight. However, its presence is no less crucial for Evil general narrative.
The main protagonist in The Wizard of OzDorothy Gale finds herself in the Land of Oz after surviving a tornado in Kansas. After walking the Yellow Brick Road and making new friends along the way, Dorothy is tasked with defeating the Wicked Witch of the West at the Wizard’s request. However, Evil provides an alternative version of what actually happened in Oz before Dorothy’s arrival and during the original Wizard of Oz plot. As such, Dorothy’s role takes a backseat Evilalthough his cameo speaks to his future and likely a slightly bigger spotlight in next year’s sequel.
Dorothy makes a cameo at the beginning of Wicked
Leading to “No one mourns the bad”
2024 Evil opens much like the original Broadway musical with its opening number “No One Mourns The Wicked”. Ariana Grande’s Glinda the Good is shown reminiscing about her relationship with Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba, while Munchkinland celebrates the Wicked Witch’s apparent disappearance at the hands of Dorothy, who was apparently able to melt her with a bucket of water. To this end, Dorothy, Toto, The Tin Woodman, The Scarecrow, and The Cowardly Lion are all seen from behind, walking down the Yellow Brick Road with Elphaba’s broom in hand to deliver it to the Wizard in the Emerald City.
TDorothy’s appearance in Evil the first act is quite brief as it leads into “No One Mourns The Wicked”. That said, the trailers for 2024 Evil featured other photos of Dorothy wearing silver slippers, as well as the girl and her friends meeting the Wizard of Oz himself (Jeff Goldblum). However, it appears that these other sequences were cut from the Yellow Brick Road sequence before the film’s opening song number.
How Dorothy’s Role in Wicked Compares to the Musical
Keeping her out of the spotlight
In the original Broadway musical, Dorothy is similarly and intentionally kept out of the spotlight.. That said, the references are made, and their presence is certainly felt especially during the second half of the production, when the events of The Wizard of Oz to start. However, Dorothy Gale never appears on stage other than her silhouette being shown as she throws the bucket of water to “melt” Elphaba.
In the same vein, it feels like 2024 Evil and its sequel also aim to keep Dorothy’s role largely in the background. After all, the focus should be squarely on Elphaba, the truth of her history as the Wicked Witch of the West and her relationship with Glinda. That being said, one can imagine that Dorothy could in fact have a greater role in Evil sequel next year compared to the original Broadway production.
Will Dorothy be in Wicked: Part 2?
Your role will likely remain small
It wouldn’t be surprising if the unused scenes of Dorothy seen in the trailers could have been saved for the sequel (instead of being cut entirely).. Due to the new medium of cinematic experience as opposed to a live theatrical production, it follows that Dorothy’s role can be expanded into Wicked: Part 2. After all, a theatrical adaptation has a greater ability to provide greater and greater context about how Evil the story intersects and retells the original Wizard of Oz history.
“Although your presence is crucial to the events of Evil and her story, it is very likely that Dorothy Gale’s face will never be shown in Perverse: Part 2…”
As far as Wicked 2 is worried Dorothy’s role will likely be bigger than a silhouette. That said, audiences still shouldn’t expect a much bigger role in the upcoming sequel, set for release on November 21st of next year. Although their presence is crucial to the events of Evil and her story, it is very likely that Dorothy Gale’s face will never be shown in Wicked: Part 2effectively maintaining the intention of the original story and musical that the story belongs to Elphaba and Glinda and the truth about Oz.
Evil It’s now showing in theaters, while Wicked: Part 2 will be released on November 21, 2025.