5 Unique Ways Wicked Is Different Than Wicked Broadway Musical 

Spoiler Warning for Wicked

After what feels like forever, the Wicked movie has finally made its way to the big screen. While the film sticks to its Broadway roots in some epic ways, it’s also throwing in enough fresh twists. 

If you’ve seen the musical, you’ll recognize all the iconic songs and characters—but there are some major differences that make the movie feel fresh and full of surprises. For those who’ve always wondered about the parts of the Wicked story that were left unexplained (like how the Wizard came to power or why Dorothy is so important), the film delivers answers.

Plus, some of our favorite characters get new moments that help develop them even more. The creative team behind this adaptation had a lot of space to dig deeper into the plot and characters, and they’ve done a fantastic job expanding on the world of Oz.

If you haven’t seen the movie yet (or if you’ve already watched it but need to process everything), we’ve got the scoop on the five biggest changes and updates that you’ll definitely want to know about.

1. Nessa Brings Boq Home to Meet Her Father

In the Wicked musical, we get a glimpse of Nessa’s crush on Boq, but it’s mostly in the background. We don’t see her take any real action about it until much later in the story. However, the Wicked movie changes that by showing Nessa introducing Boq to her father.

This is a big moment because it shows that Nessa’s feelings for Boq are much deeper than we previously thought. Nessa is not just quietly pining over him—she’s so serious that she wants her father to meet him.

This small change adds a lot more depth to Nessa’s character and makes her feelings for Boq feel much more real. It also hints that she might not realize that Boq is actually in love with Glinda.

There’s this awkward moment where Nessa doesn’t know the truth, and it creates a sense of tension that makes you feel for her. In the Broadway musical, this relationship with Boq is mostly implied, but in the film, we get to see Nessa’s emotional side more clearly.

This change gives Nessa more of an arc and shows how much she cares about Boq, even if she’s unaware of how things are really going between him and Glinda.

2. Madame Morrible and The Wizard Were Allies All Along

Madame Morrible, the sneaky press secretary turned villain, has always been a bit of a mystery in the Wicked musical. Is she in on the Wizard’s (Jeff Goldblum) evil plan from the beginning, or does she only find out later?

The musical leaves this question open-ended, but in the Wicked movie, we finally get a clear answer. In the film, it’s made very obvious that Madame Morrible and the Wizard have been working together for a long time.

This makes her role as a manipulator much more important. When Elphaba asks her if she knew about the Wizard’s plans from the start, Morrible doesn’t just give a vague answer like in the musical.

Instead, the movie shows her being much more involved with the Wizard from the get-go, and it feels like she’s been plotting alongside him for a while. Their chemistry is undeniable, and it’s clear that they’re not just colleagues—they’re close partners in crime.

Michelle Yeoh, who plays Madame Morrible, brings a lot of intensity to the character. She’s sly, powerful, and knows exactly what she’s doing. The movie takes her character in a more devious direction!

3. Elphaba and Fiyero Cross Paths in Unexpected Ways

Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Fiyero’s (Jonathan Bailey) relationship is one of the most important parts of Wicked, but in the musical, their first meeting happens pretty quickly and doesn’t give them a lot of time to connect.

In the movie, however, we get a completely different take on how they meet, and it’s a moment that helps build their relationship in a more meaningful way. Instead of meeting in a big group of students, Elphaba and Fiyero have a one-on-one moment out in the forest.

Fiyero’s horse runs into Elphaba, and the two have a tense but interesting interaction. This gives them time to bond, even if it’s just through bickering at first. There’s no other distraction around, and the two of them are able to have a real conversation and start to develop a connection.

This change makes their relationship feel more natural and less rushed. By giving them a chance to interact alone, the film sets up their romance in a way that feels more earned.

Their chemistry builds over time, and it’s clear that their feelings for each other develop in a way that feels genuine. It’s a simple change, but it makes their relationship more believable and emotionally powerful by the end.

4. Dorothy Makes Her Debut in Wicked Movie

In the original Wicked musical, Dorothy is mentioned, but she never actually appears on stage. We hear her name a lot, and there are references to her actions, like when Glinda shouts to her offstage, but we never actually see her.

However, the Wicked movie changes this by giving us a brief but exciting glimpse of Dorothy. At the beginning of the film, during the No One Mourns the Wicked number, we see Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion walking down the Yellow Brick Road toward the Emerald City.

This is a direct nod to the ending of The Wizard of Oz, where Dorothy and her friends are on their way to meet the Wizard. While Dorothy’s appearance in the film is small, it could be setting up a bigger role for her in Wicked: Part 2.

The way she’s shown walking down the road gives the impression that she might have a larger presence in the story later on, and fans are already speculating how she could fit into the plot. This cameo is a fun Easter egg for fans of the original Wizard of Oz, and it makes the Wicked movie feel like it’s all part of one big, interconnected universe.

5. Why the Munchkins Revere the Wizard Explained

One of the biggest mysteries in Wicked and The Wizard of Oz is why the Munchkins, who seem like such small and innocent creatures, would worship the Wizard. How did he become so powerful in Oz?

Well, the Wicked movie finally gives us an answer to this long-standing question. In the movie, we learn about a group called The Wise Ones, who were the magical leaders of Oz before the Wizard showed up.

They prophesized that the person who could read the Grimmerie, a magical book, would come to save Oz. When the Wizard arrives and shows that he can read the Grimmerie, the people of Oz believe that he is the one they’ve been waiting for.

This is why the Munchkins and the rest of Oz worship him—they think he’s been chosen to lead them and save the land from disaster. This explanation gives the Wizard’s rise to power a much deeper backstory and helps us understand why everyone follows him so blindly.

So, he didn’t just stumble into power by accident—he was chosen for it. This change in the movie gives a clearer picture of the political landscape in Oz and makes the Wizard’s manipulation feel even more deliberate.

Wicked is currently screening in theatres!