November 27, 2025 – Director Jon M. Chu has revealed why the character Dorothy, played by Bethany Weaver, never has her face shown in Wicked: For Good, the highly anticipated second part of his adaptation of the Broadway musical. Despite filming some scenes with Dorothy’s face visible, Chu explained that these were ultimately cut because they distracted from the story’s main focus: the journey of Glinda and Elphaba.

Why Dorothy Remains Faceless

In an interview with Business Insider, Chu, 46, shared that from the beginning, the film intentionally kept Dorothy’s face hidden.

“We had opportunities to show more, and we shot some things where you could see her face, but our intention, from the beginning, was not to show her face,” he said. “Every time it drew us to, ‘What does Dorothy think?’ we reminded ourselves of that. It was a distraction.”

The approach mirrors the stage production’s philosophy, emphasizing that the story is about the girls, Glinda and Elphaba, rather than Dorothy. Chu noted that even at auditions, performers were evaluated behind a sheet to focus on movement, energy, and physicality rather than facial expressions.

“Through that, I was looking at how she could walk, but also, could I guide her in that way? The person had to have youthful energy, so we ultimately chose a dancer,” Chu said.

Deleted Scenes and Glimpses of Dorothy

While Dorothy’s face is never shown in the final cut, some deleted scenes captured her expressions. These sequences were not included to maintain narrative focus. Audiences still get glimpses of Dorothy’s story from the witches’ perspective. Notable moments include:

• Dorothy’s house arriving in Munchkinland
• Her iconic bucket-of-water incident with Elphaba
• Close-ups of Dorothy’s feet dangling from a flying monkey
• Scenes with Toto and companions in the Wizard’s chamber

These glimpses provide context for Dorothy’s interactions in Oz without detracting from the central plot.

Dorothy in Relation to Glinda and Elphaba

In the film, Glinda, played by Ariana Grande, often shows impatience toward Dorothy. On the yellow brick road, Glinda dismisses her and even rolls her eyes when Dorothy fails to accompany the Wizard in his hot air balloon.

“It’s always something with her,” Grande’s Glinda quips, highlighting Dorothy’s minimal yet pivotal role in the witches’ journey.

Meanwhile, Elphaba, portrayed by Cynthia Erivo, continues her story arc without significant interruption, maintaining focus on her development and eventual confrontation with Oz’s larger forces.

Other Characters and Story Expansion

Wicked: For Good also introduces grown-up versions of familiar Wizard of Oz characters, such as:

• The Cowardly Lion, voiced by Colman Domingo
• Fiyero’s Scarecrow, played by Jonathan Bailey

The film, which adapts the musical by Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz and draws inspiration from Gregory Maguire’s novel, continues to expand the universe of Oz while offering a fresh perspective from the witches’ point of view.

In Theaters Now

Wicked: For Good is currently playing in theaters, bringing audiences back to the magical land of Oz while focusing on Glinda and Elphaba’s story. While Dorothy’s face remains unseen, her presence is felt throughout the narrative, serving as a bridge to the classic 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz.