Depraved Forged & Character Information: Who Performs Who?

After years of delays and anticipation, the primary half of Jon M. Chu’s sprawling, two-part film adaptation of “Depraved” — the massively well-liked Broadway musical primarily based on Gregory Maguire’s retelling of “The Wizard of Oz” — is lastly hitting theaters, and Chu has assembled an all-star solid to carry Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s Broadway hit to the massive display screen. “Depraved” flips the script on L. Frank Baum’s authentic story about Dorothy (Judy Garland in the basic 1939 “Wizard of Oz” movie) exploring the magical land of Oz by specializing in Elphaba, a younger lady born with inexperienced pores and skin who struggles to slot in on the prestigious Shiz College and in the end turns into the legendary popular culture villain The Depraved Witch of the West (memorably portrayed by Margaret Hamilton within the ’39 film).

So, who’s in Chu’s “Depraved” film, a long time after Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth originated the lead roles of Elphaba and Galinda (the latter of whom turns into the Good Witch, performed by Billy Burke in “The Wizard of Oz”) on stage? From main pop stars to fellow Broadway veterans and Oscar winners, this is who performs who in “Depraved” and precisely how the characters match into the story. (Once more, these are the foremost characters that function in “Depraved: Half One,” as “Half Two” will not hit theaters till November 2025.)

Sadly for Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), the intense inexperienced hue of her pores and skin — which she refers to as “verdigris” in one of many musical’s songs, “The Wizard and I” — units her aside instantly when she arrives at Shiz College. That is nothing new for Elphaba; within the stage musical, it is revealed that her late mom had an affair that resulted in a green-skinned child, main Elphaba’s father to resent her presence perpetually. (If this sounds darkish, relaxation assured that Elphaba’s entire deal in Gregory Maguire’s authentic e book is means darker.) Elphaba’s troubles at Shiz solely intensify when she finally ends up rooming with Galinda Upland (Ariana Grande), a bubbly, well-liked scholar who bullies Elphaba at first earlier than the 2 lastly uncover some widespread floor (and turn out to be shut associates).

For a lot of musical theater followers, it was extremely thrilling to study that Erivo scored the lead position of Elphaba” within the “Depraved” film. Erivo memorably received a Tony for her position as Celie in “The Colour Purple,” which started its run off-Broadway in 2013 and transferred to the Nice White Approach in 2015. (She received the statue and a Grammy for Finest Musical Theater Album in 2016 and 2017.) On the massive display screen, Erivo has starred in main movies like 2018’s “Widows,” the 2019 biopic “Harriet” (which earned her an Oscar nomination for taking part in Harriet Tubman), and Robert Zemeckis’ 2022 remake of “Pinocchio” because the Blue Fairy.

For those who’re frightened about Ariana Grande’s performing chops — since we know she has the vocal vary for a big-screen film musical — enable me to remind you that the lady grew up within the Nickelodeon mines, and he or she’s past prepared for a humorous but emotional lead position that enables her to indicate off her versatility as a performer. When Grande’s Galinda Upland first meets Elphaba, she’s simply as judgmental as all people else because of Elphaba’s inexperienced pores and skin, however after she methods Elphaba into sporting an unpleasant hat to a dance as an act of humilitation, Galinda adjustments her tune. All through the primary half of “Depraved,” Elphaba and Galinda turn out to be finest associates … solely to be torn aside by political strife in Oz (although that half should look ahead to “Depraved: Half Two”).

Does Grande even actually want an introduction? Simply in case you are utterly unfamiliar with the pop goddess with a 4 octave vocal vary (who’s mastered the super-high whistle register as well), the two-time Grammy winner and bestselling recording artist is liable for hits like “Break Free,” “Thank U, Subsequent,” and “Sure, And” bought her begin on Nickelodeon initiatives like “Victorious” and “Sam & Cat.” Except for a cameo in Adam McKay’s 2021 satire “Do not Look Up,” that is Grande’s first main film position, however simply look to her extraordinary activates “Saturday Night time Dwell” for proof that she’s bought what it takes.

At first, it looks as if Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible is solely a strict but truthful trainer at Shiz College — particularly when she affords non-public classes to Elphaba after bearing witness to the younger green-skinned lady’s magical talents. (Sure, this entire story is about within the fantastical world of Oz, however not everyone seems to be able to magic; solely true witches and wizards.) Later, although, it is revealed that Madame Morrible is definitely deeply concerned within the authorities’s soiled schemes and works straight with the corrupt Wizard himself (extra on him in a second), giving the character a heel-turn that Yeoh will, undoubtedly, pull off with aplomb.

Yeoh has been an business staple for a long time, showing in every part from “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” to “Memoirs of a Geisha,” the James Bond flick “Tomorrow By no means Dies,” and the big romantic comedy “Loopy Wealthy Asians.” In 2022, because of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s sci-fi action-comedy “All the things In every single place All at As soon as,” Yeoh not solely booked her first-ever lead position, however she additionally grew to become the primary Asian girl to win the Academy Award for Finest Actress. Throw in appearances in style fare just like the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and the TV sequence “Star Trek: Discovery,” and you have got a critically achieved and beloved actor who will certainly carry one thing particular to “Depraved.”

Casting Hollywood legend Jeff Goldblum because the enigmatic false god often called The Fantastic Wizard of Oz is a stroke of whole genius. Anybody who’s seen “The Wizard of Oz” already is aware of the man is principally a fraud, however “Depraved” takes his whole charade one step additional and divulges that he is just a few man from Nebraska who crash-landed his sizzling air balloon in Oz and ended up turning into the land’s ruler. Sadly for Elphaba, she desperately needs to satisfy the wizard — no, critically, she sings like three separate songs about hoping to satisfy him to allow them to enhance Oz collectively — and when she does, she learns that he plans to depend on her magical talents for his personal nefarious functions, as a result of he is not truly a wizard in any respect.

You understand who Goldblum is. All people does. The man’s been in every part from “Jurassic Park” to Wes Anderson motion pictures like “The Grand Budapest Resort” to Marvel movies like “Thor: Ragnarok” and the motion thriller “Independence Day,” and general, he is one of the vital universally adored Hollywood stars round. The Wizard is likely to be a fraud, however Goldblum is the actual deal, and he’ll undoubtedly carry his signature allure to the position.

Each film wants a heartthrob, and Jonathan Bailey fills that position in “Depraved” as Fiyero Tigelaar, a good-looking Shiv scholar and royal prince who instantly catches each lady’s consideration when he arrives in school. Sadly for Galinda, who’s smitten with him immediately, Fiyero finally ends up forming an surprising bond with Elphaba, and the 2 catch emotions fairly shortly; sadly for all people concerned, every part adjustments after Galinda and Elphaba meet the Wizard and Elphaba principally turns into the face of the Oz resistance. (We’ll have to attend for “Depraved: Half Two” for that to essentially get going, although.)

Bailey is certainly used to taking part in a heartthrob after his flip in “Bridgerton” season 2 — the place he carries out a simmering, slow-burn romance as Anthony Bridgerton reverse Simone Ashley’s Kate Sharma — and you could have additionally seen his acclaimed flip within the miniseries “Fellow Vacationers,” the place he carries on a forbidden affair with Matt Bomer. He additionally confirmed up in a significant visitor position in season 3 of Netflix’s swoony teen drama “Heartstopper,” and don’t fret, he can sing too. Bailey’s stage resumé is fairly intensive, and in 2019, he received a Laurence Olivier Award for his position as Jamie in a gender-swapped, London-based manufacturing of “Firm.”

If Jon M. Chu splits “Depraved” up in the very same means that the Broadway musical divides Act 1 and Act 2, followers should wait a short time to see precisely what occurs with Boq Woodsman, a lovelorn Munchkin performed by Ethan Slater. Proper from the beginning, Boq has a large crush on Galinda, however she finally ends up tricking him into asking Elphaba’s youthful sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode, each of whom I am going to circle again to momentarily) to Shiz College’s first massive dance, at which level Nessa falls exhausting for Boq. He is not going to look notably important within the first a part of “Depraved,” however file Boq’s entire deal away for subsequent yr.

As for Slater, “Depraved” is his first massive movie venture. On the small display screen, he is appeared in episodes of exhibits like “Legislation & Order: Particular Victims Unit,” “Fosse/Verdon” (the place, by the way, Slater performs Joel Gray, the Broadway veteran who appeared within the authentic Broadway solid of “Depraved” because the Wizard), and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Slater is probably going most well-known at this level for his lead position in “The Spongebob Musical,” which earned him a Tony nomination, and his high-profile relationship with Galinda herself, Ariana Grande.

For those who’ve seen “The Wizard of Oz,” you possibly can most likely work out the destiny that befalls Nessarose Thropp, Elphaba’s paraplegic youthful sister, should you recall what occurs to the Depraved Witch of the West’s sister. (This is a touch: she earns an analogous title involving the phrase “east.”) Originally of “Depraved,” although, Nessarose — performed by Marissa Bode — is solely a younger and keen scholar excited to be by her sister’s facet at Shiz, the place she develops an enormous crush on Boq Woodsman after they attend a dance collectively. Very like Boq, Nessarose’s half within the general story is a lot larger within the musical’s second act, so Bode’s full arc should wait till “Depraved: Half Two.”

That is Bode’s first feature-length movie, which is astounding, however she’s additionally making historical past as the primary actor in a wheelchair to ever play Nessarose. (Within the stage adaptation, an able-bodied actor performs the position as a result of Elphaba magically “restores” Nessarose’s legs in Act 2.) “I am genuinely so honored that it is me doing that,” Bode advised Selection in September 2024. “Seeing anyone authentically solid like that on display screen is simply so vital, particularly in one thing so cool and so magical as ‘Depraved.'” Relating to that Act 2 plot level, Bode teased that it adjustments a bit, however general, she mentioned she was happy with the movie’s inclusivity and imaginative and prescient. “Casting authentically and displaying an genuine disabled individual is essential, however it’s additionally crucial how we’re proven,” Bode mentioned. “I’m very proud of the adjustments which were made, for positive.” It will be superb to see Bode make her big-screen debut in “Depraved,” and the subsequent film will give this rising star an excellent larger showcase.

A serious subplot in “Depraved” that has nothing to do with witchcraft or wizardry is a rising “anti-animal” sentiment all through Oz, that means that any capital-A “Animals” who can communicate English and principally dwell as people are instantly considered as an issue in society. Early within the musical, Physician Dillamond (a goat) reveals to Elphaba that the Ozian authorities has expressed curiosity in caging Animals and that there is even a bigger, darker conspiracy to solid a spell upon all Animals to cease them from talking ever once more. Elphaba is outraged and pledges to assist Physician Dillamond and his sort in any means that she will be able to, however the good physician finally ends up fired from Shiz College … and as soon as once more, you may have to attend and see what occurs to Physician Dillamond within the second half of “Depraved.”

In Jon M. Chu’s film, Physician Dillamond is a CGI creation, however he is voiced by Peter Dinklage, winner of a number of Emmys and one other universally adored Hollywood staple. Audiences most likely know Dinklage finest for his eight-season run on “Sport of Thrones” as fan favourite Tyrion Lannister — a task which received Dinklage a whopping 4 Emmys — however he is additionally appeared in large initiatives like “Elf,” “Three Billboards Outdoors Ebbing, Missouri,” and style fare like “The Starvation Video games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” “X-Males: Days of Future Previous,” and “Avengers: Infinity Warfare.” 

Galinda’s associates and henchmen Pfannee and ShenShen — performed within the movie by Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James — aren’t large characters in Gregory Maguire’s e book or the Broadway musical, however their roles are positively expanded within the film … they usually’re fairly totally different as well. For starters, Pfannee is a lady within the e book however grew to become a queer man when Yang joined the solid, and ShenShen will get elevated from an ensemble character within the musical to somebody with precise display screen time. So, the place have you ever seen Yang and James earlier than?

Yang is certainly finest recognized for his ongoing position as a repertory participant on “Saturday Night time Dwell” in addition to for his roles in motion pictures like “Fireplace Island” and “Bros” and TV exhibits like “Girls5Eva” and “The Different Two.” (Yang can be extraordinarily shut together with his “Depraved” co-star Ariana Grande and, in anticipation of the movie, hosted her on “Las Culturistas,” his well-liked podcast with Matt Rogers.) As for James, the British actor has appeared in single episodes of exhibits like “Ghosts,” “Outlander,” and “Sluggish Horses,” and performed a significant position on the sequence “Harlots” as Fanny Lambert.

“Depraved” will open in theaters on November 22, 2024.