Why Depraved’s Madame Morrible Would not Seem In The Wizard Of Oz

This text comprises potential spoilers for “Depraved: For Good.”

Should you noticed “Depraved” and are accustomed to “The Wizard of Oz,” you have in all probability already drawn some connections between the 2. You would possibly know, as an illustration, {that a} couple members of Dorothy’s well-known crew have already popped up in “Depraved,” albeit below totally different names. And naturally, for those who’ve seen the unique Broadway musical, you recognize precisely how the 2 tales intersect, because the entirety of “The Wizard of Oz” takes place within the background of the present’s second act.

Jon M. Chu’s “Depraved: For Good,” which is about to reach in late 2025, will full the story, revealing the entire bigger Ouncesconnections to those that have not seen the play stay. That features the character of Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), headmistress of Shiz College. Madame Morrible does not seem in “The Wizard of Oz,” which, after all, is generally as a result of the character hadn’t been invented but. L. Frank Baum’s first Ouncesnovel was printed in 1900, whereas the movie adaptation got here out in 1939. In the meantime, Gregory Maguire’s first “Depraved” novel got here out in 1995, and the musical adaptation premiered on Broadway in 2003.

That is the boring, logistical purpose why Madame Morrible does not seem in “The Wizard of Oz,” however don’t fret, there is a extra enjoyable retroactive lore clarification as properly. As Act Two of the “Depraved” stage musical reveals, Morrible’s affect is felt significantly throughout Dorothy’s time in Oz, however she’s principally working behind the scenes with the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) throughout that point. What’s extra fascinating is that within the story of “Depraved,” Morrible is the explanation Dorothy seems in Ounceswithin the first place.

As seen in the primary “Depraved” film, Madame Morrible does possess a considerable quantity of magical energy, albeit far lower than that of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo). Particularly, we see her affect the climate.

It’s possible you’ll already see the place that is going.

Within the “Depraved” stage musical, and presumably “Depraved: For Good” as properly, Morrible is the one who summons the twister that by accident brings Dorothy to Oz. Her objective is to lure Elphaba out of hiding by placing her sister, Nessarose (Marissa Bode), at risk. Spoilers for “Depraved: For Good,” however Nessa is the Depraved Witch of the East, who will get crushed and killed by Dorothy’s falling home.

For the rest of the present’s second act, Morrible continues to scheme with the Wizard about how you can convey Elphaba down and restore “order” to Ouncesbelow their tyrannical rule. For the reason that Wizard himself does not seem in “The Wizard of Oz” till close to the very finish, and since Shiz itself is not part of that unique story, it makes excellent sense that Morrible does not seem. She’s extra of a behind-the-scenes actor anyway, stirring up chaos and pulling strings to affect the political local weather. Ultimately, after the Wizard departs Ouncesand Glinda (Ariana Grande) assumes the next station, she arrests Morrible for her crimes. Within the unique “Depraved” novel, although, Morrible has a distinct destiny.

Gregory Maguire’s “Depraved” may be very totally different from the Broadway stage adaptation and its movie model, each of that are basically the identical. The novel is way darker in most respects, and its timeline is sort of dissimilar. Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), for instance, will get married and has kids with a distinct lady earlier than he and Elphaba start their romantic entanglement. Likewise, the Wizard commits way more egregious on-page atrocities, whereas Elphaba’s coaching with the Grimmerie comes later in her life.

Madame Morrible’s story can also be very a lot its personal factor in Maguire’s novel. After becoming a member of a resistance motion towards the Wizard’s regime, Elphaba tries to assassinate the Shiz headmistress within the ebook, however fails. Years later, she returns to complete the job, solely to search out that Morrible has already handed away. Enraged at being robbed of the prospect to kill her personally, Elphaba assaults Morrible’s useless physique.

The ending of the novel and the musical are equally unalike, although we’ll depart these adjustments so that you can discover out your self (do you have to so select). Of all her incarnations, the movie model of Morrible appears to be her most sympathetic and least villainous but, so it’s going to be fascinating to see what Yeoh and the film’s different creatives do together with her when “Depraved: For Good” opens in theaters on November 21, 2025.