Jonathan Bailey’s ‘Wicked’ Role Has an Unexpected Bridgerton Connection That’ll Have Every Fan Weak in the Knees

There are certain incidents in the world of entertainment where fans find common links between completely different projects, which seem to have happened by accident. Jonathan Bailey, who has won hearts with his portrayal of Anthony Bridgerton, is now ready to appear in Wicked as charming Prince Fiyero.

As Bailey jumps right from Regency-period romance to the magical land of Oz, he is bringing a surprising piece from Bridgerton. This link between the two productions puts another interesting spin on what has already been tagged as one of the most anticipated movie musicals of 2024.

Old Member from Bridgerton Set Joins Jonathan Bailey in Wicked

Jonathan Bailey earned his global fame with his breakout role in Bridgerton. He played Anthony Bridgerton and pulled off the right mix of stern exterior while being sensitive enough, especially from season two. Being the Viscount and the head of the Bridgerton household, Bailey’s character was frequently seen on horseback.

Now as he takes the role of Fiyero in Wicked alongside Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba and Ariana Grande’s Glinda, Bailey has shared a surprise reunion. He revealed in his interview on Popcorn Podcast with Leigh and Tim that the horse that he starred with in Wicked is the same one he was riding in Bridgerton.

I’d worked with the horse before, who needs to have a special mention. I worked with him in Bridgerton, so we’ve built a trust and a rapport. And he’s incredibly focused and can deliver a very sort of stable scene partner. So with that in mind I felt confident just to sort of go for gold.

The reunion seems even more appropriate, as Fiyero is a Winkie prince who gets introduced to Elphaba and Glinda when they all attend Shiz University. The character calls for aristocracy and emotional depth as well, which Bailey has mastered in Bridgerton.

The story of Wicked will be divided into two movies. The film will likely explore the characters’ experiences and friendships, and perhaps fans will see Bailey spending a significant amount of time on screen with his four-legged co-star.

Jonathan Bailey Shot Bridgerton and Wicked Simultaneously

While the horse connection seems to add interesting trivia to the making of Wicked, the movie’s shoot was not as simple. At the same time, the actor worked on three large productions- Wicked, Bridgerton, and Fellow Travelers.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Bailey shared his intense schedule, where he worked 32 days without a break.

I think it was 32 days in a row where I didn’t have one day off. And I flew back and forth four times. I’d go from Hawk’s house in the ‘60s at the cabin, go straight to the airport, sleep on the plane, go straight to a regency ball, sleep there, then go straight to Wicked to be learning choreography.

The actor revealed that he got quite “late in joining the Wicked lot,” but he was thankful to “Marc Platt to make that work.” Many of his co-stars also noticed his dedication. Matt Bomer, who co-stars with Bailey in Fellow Travelers, said on Sirius XM that one day, when he entered their trailer, he found it shaking as Bailey was rehearsing Wicked choreography on his day off.

“You would never know that he was shooting three things at the same time,” Bomer said. Despite all the schedule and performance challenges, Jonathan Bailey has somehow managed to deliver the requirements which is a testament to his talent and dedication.

Wicked will be released in theaters on November 22, 2024.