If you’ve ever come across the musical “Wicked” and are already familiar with the classic “The Wizard of Oz,” you may have noticed some similarities and overlaps between the two. For instance, a few characters from Dorothy’s iconic group appear in “Wicked,” but under different aliases. Furthermore, the entire Wizard of Oz storyline unfolds in the backdrop of the second act of the Broadway musical “Wicked.”
Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked: For Good,” set to premiere in late 2025, promises to bring the whole tale to light, unveiling all the hidden links to Oz for those who haven’t had the chance to see the play. This includes the character of Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), the headmistress of Shiz University. Madame Morrible is absent from “The Wizard of Oz,” primarily because the character hadn’t been conceived yet. L. Frank Baum’s initial Oz novel was published in 1900, while the film adaptation was released in 1939. In contrast, Gregory Maguire’s inaugural “Wicked” novel was published in 1995, and its musical adaptation made its Broadway debut in 2003.
This is the mundane, logistical reason behind Madame Morrible’s absence from “The Wizard of Oz.” But don’t fret, a more interesting explanation exists in the retroactive lore. As Act Two of the “Wicked” stage musical unveils, Morrible’s influence is felt significantly during Dorothy’s time in Oz. However, she mainly operates behind the scenes with the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) during this period. What’s more intriguing is that in the narrative of “Wicked,” Morrible is the catalyst for Dorothy’s arrival in Oz.
Madame Morrible’s Role in Bringing Dorothy to Oz
Universal Pictures
As depicted in the inaugural “Wicked” movie, Madame Morrible wields considerable magical power, although it pales compared to that of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo). Notably, she can manipulate the weather.
You might already anticipate where this is leading.
In the “Wicked” stage musical, and presumably in “Wicked: For Good” as well, Morrible summons the tornado that inadvertently brings Dorothy to Oz. Her objective is to coax Elphaba from her hiding by endangering her sister, Nessarose (Marissa Bode). A spoiler for “Wicked: For Good,” but Nessa is the infamous Wicked Witch of the East, who is killed when Dorothy’s house falls on her.
For the rest of the musical’s second act, Morrible continues her scheming with the Wizard about how to defeat Elphaba and establish “order” in Oz under their despotic rule. Since the Wizard himself doesn’t make an appearance in “The Wizard of Oz” until nearly the end, and Shiz is not a component of that original narrative, it’s logical that Morrible is not seen. She’s more of a behind-the-scenes operator, causing turmoil and manipulating the political climate. In the end, after the Wizard leaves Oz and Glinda (Ariana Grande) ascends to a higher position, she arrests Morrible for her crimes. However, in the original “Wicked” novel, Morrible meets a different fate.
Madame Morrible’s Fate in the Wicked Novel
Universal Pictures
Gregory Maguire’s “Wicked” novel differs significantly from its Broadway stage adaptation and its film version, which are essentially identical. The book is generally darker, and its timeline is quite divergent. Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), for instance, marries and has children with another woman before his romantic liaison with Elphaba begins. Similarly, the Wizard commits far more heinous atrocities directly in the book, while Elphaba’s training with the Grimmerie happens later in her life.
Madame Morrible’s narrative is unique in Maguire’s book. After joining a resistance against the Wizard’s rule, Elphaba attempts to assassinate the headmistress of Shiz in the book but fails. Years later, she returns to accomplish her mission, only to discover Morrible has already died. Furious at being deprived of the opportunity to kill her herself, Elphaba assaults Morrible’s corpse.
The novel and the musical’s endings are quite dissimilar, but we’ll let you uncover those alterations yourself (if you choose to). Of all her versions, the film portrayal of Morrible appears to be the most sympathetic and least villainous, so it’ll be intriguing to see Michelle Yeoh and the other creatives’ interpretation of her when “Wicked: For Good” hits the theaters on November 21, 2025.
FAQs
When was the first novel of “Wicked” published?
Gregory Maguire’s inaugural “Wicked” novel was published in 1995.
Who plays the role of Madame Morrible in “Wicked: For Good”?
Michelle Yeoh portrays the character of Madame Morrible in “Wicked: For Good.”
When is “Wicked: For Good” set to premiere?
“Wicked: For Good” is set to hit the theaters on November 21, 2025.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
