In a surprising revelation from the magical world of Oz, filmmakers behind the blockbuster Wicked: For Good made the decisive cut to remove a particularly romantic moment between Ariana Grande's Glinda and Jonathan Bailey's Fiyero. The reason? The scene was simply deemed 'too passionate' for the film's narrative flow.
The Scene That Crossed the Line
According to co-writer Dana Fox, who spoke exclusively to Deadline, the cut scene featured a romantic kiss between the two characters that proved too convincing. The moment was so beautifully executed and emotionally charged that it threatened to undermine a central plot point of the entire story.
'There was a scene between Fiyero and Glinda that we cut in which they kissed; it was romantic and beautiful, but a little too passionate,' Fox explained. The intensity of the connection between Grande and Bailey's characters created a significant problem for the audience's understanding of Fiyero's ultimate choice.
'Seeing that made it too hard to watch him make the choice he makes to be with Elphaba,' Fox continued, highlighting the narrative dilemma. The strength of the romantic moment between Glinda and Fiyero would have made his eventual decision to leave her for Elphaba seem inexplicable to viewers.
Preserving the Love Triangle
The film, which hit cinemas last week under director John M Chu, follows the complex relationships between the three main characters. While Fiyero does develop genuine feelings for Glinda, his connection with Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba proves deeper and more transformative.
Fox elaborated on the character dynamics, noting that Fiyero 'really did love' Glinda, but in a different way than he loved Elphaba. However, the cut scene blurred this crucial distinction too effectively. 'It was too real that he and Glinda were actually feeling something together,' the writer stated.
The decision ultimately came down to protecting the audience's emotional journey. Fox concluded that keeping the scene would have made viewers 'hate Elphaba, Glinda, and Fiyero' when the inevitable choice was made, calling the cut necessary for the story's coherence.
Unexpected Buzz and The 'Sex Cardigan'
While one romantic scene was removed for being too intense, the film has still generated considerable discussion among parents and fans about its romantic content. A separate steamy scene between Elphaba and Fiyero has particularly caught attention, especially given the film's PG rating.
Social media users have expressed surprise at the implied intimacy between the characters. 'Sitting in the theatre watching Wicked: For Good like damn there's lowkey a sex scene in this PG lmaoo,' wrote one X user under the handle enchantdlovr.
Another memorable element that has captured the public imagination is what fans have dubbed Elphaba's 'sex cardigan'. The outfit worn by the character during her seduction of Fiyero has become an instant internet sensation and meme.
'Elphaba was taking no chances when Fiyero got in that treehouse. Broke out the good lingerie and her sex cardigan,' commented karl_delo on X. The garment has even received the fashion world's stamp of approval, with Vogue declaring the sexy cardigan a 'holy grail' item in the wake of the film's release.
The buzz surrounding these elements demonstrates the continued cultural impact of the Wicked universe, proving that even in a story about witches and wizards, human relationships and their complications remain at the heart of the magic.
