Wicked: Part Two is shaking things up, and Nessarose actress Marissa Bode is here to dish! Spoiler alert: you might want to click your heels together three times to brace yourself.
In an interview with People, Marissaβour new Nessarose and a certified scene-stealerβrevealed that the movie isnβt just taking cues from the Broadway musical; itβs adding a sprinkle of its own magic dust. (Glindaβs jealous, obviously.)
A Silver Slipper Switcheroo
Picture this: Nessarose gets her iconic silver slippers (move over, ruby ones; silverβs the new vibe). In the Broadway musical, these bad boys are packed with some serious magical mojo that helps her stand and walk. But in the movie, Nessarose isnβt just looking for a quick spell-fix, and Marissa made sure to clarify that in her chat.
βOne of the first things Jon [M. Chu, the director, AKA the guy holding the magic wand] and I talked about was tweaking this pivotal scene,β Marissa spilled. βApparently, the movie wanted to steer clear of the βOh no, my disability, please fix it!β vibe and instead focus on the magic of the story.β Because who needs plot tropes when youβve got a flying green witch and a talking goat?
Jon apparently called Marissa up and said something like: ββHey, weβre reworking this bit because, you know, clichΓ©s are soooo 2003.ββ OK, maybe he didnβt say it exactly like that, but you get the idea. The result? Nessaroseβs big moment becomes about celebrating magic rather than making it a metaphysical makeover montage.
Keeping Secrets Like a Pro
Marissa, being the ultimate professional (or maybe just scared of Elphabaβs wrath), wouldnβt spill too much tea. βThatβs all I can say!β she laughed, probably checking for a hovering flying monkey ready to enforce NDAs.
Nessarose: Breaking Barriers and Repping Realness
Hereβs the thing: Nessarose has never been played by an authentically disabled actress before. Let that sink in. And Marissa is bringing more than just talentβsheβs bringing representation, advocacy, and a much-needed shake-up to Hollywoodβs dusty old playbook.
βI know people say representation matters, but letβs be real: we also need accessibility,β Marissa declared like a boss. βItβs not just about casting disabled actorsβitβs about making the whole dang industry stop pretending ramps are optional.β Preach, queen!
Mark Your Calendars
If all this drama, magic, and representation arenβt enough to get you hyped, remember: Wicked: Part Two hits theaters on November 26, 2025. So start practicing your βDefying Gravityβ high notes nowβyouβre going to want to sing along. Just maybe not in public. Save the magic for the pros.
