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, Marissaโour new Nessarose and a certified scene-stealerโrevealed that the movie isnโt just taking cues from the Broadway musical; itโs adding a sprinkle of its own magic dust. (Glindaโs jealous, obviously.)
A Silver Slipper Switcheroo
Picture this: Nessarose gets her iconic silver slippers (move over, ruby ones; silverโs 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 isnโt just looking for a quick spell-fix, and Marissa made sure to clarify that in her chat.
โOne 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,โ Marissa spilled. โApparently, the movie wanted to steer clear of the โOh no, my disability, please fix it!โ vibe and instead focus on the magic of the story.โ Because who needs plot tropes when youโve got a flying green witch and a talking goat?
Jon apparently called Marissa up and said something like: โโHey, weโre reworking this bit because, you know, clichรฉs are soooo 2003.โโ OK, maybe he didnโt say it exactly like that, but you get the idea. The result? Nessaroseโs 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 Elphabaโs wrath), wouldnโt spill too much tea. โThatโs all I can say!โ she laughed, probably checking for a hovering flying monkey ready to enforce NDAs.
Nessarose: Breaking Barriers and Repping Realness
Hereโs the thing: Nessarose has never been played by an authentically disabled actress before. Let that sink in. And Marissa is bringing more than just talentโsheโs bringing representation, advocacy, and a much-needed shake-up to Hollywoodโs dusty old playbook.
โI know people say representation matters, but letโs be real: we also need accessibility,โ Marissa declared like a boss. โItโs not just about casting disabled actorsโitโs about making the whole dang industry stop pretending ramps are optional.โ Preach, queen!
Mark Your Calendars
If all this drama, magic, and representation arenโt enough to get you hyped, remember: Wicked: Part Two hits theaters on November 26, 2025. So start practicing your โDefying Gravityโ high notes nowโyouโre going to want to sing along. Just maybe not in public. Save the magic for the pros.
