There’s been some criticism of Wicked over the years, specifically how it treats disability as something that needs to be “fixed”. In the stage version, Elphaba believes she’d finally be normal if she gets rid of her green skin, and her wheelchair-user sister Nessarose begs for the Wicked Witch to use magic to help her walk.
In Act Two of the stage musical, Elphaba ends up casting a spell on Nessarose’s shoes and allows her to walk, which has disastrous consequences.
However, for the blockbuster movie helmed by Jon M. Chu, Nessarose is played by authentic wheelchair and disability advocate Marissa Bode, and they’re addressing the problems in the source material.
People have been wondering how the story will be changed (for the better, IMO), and Bode has just given some delicious hints.
“One of the first conversations I had with Jon [was about that scene],” she told People. “I wasn’t there for the actual script change, [but Jon said], ‘Hey, we changed this part in this way just so that it felt less like a fixing moment’.”
Instead of Nessarose “pleading for a disability to be fixed”, Wicked Part Two will see the script “focusing on the magic in general and the magic of the story”.
“That’s all I can say, I think,” Bode spilled.
@pedestriantv “I think that’s great to set a precedent for other projects” @Marissa #wicked #marissabode #nessarose #representation ♬ original sound – PEDESTRIAN.TV
When Bode was in Sydney for the Wicked press tour, she opened up to PEDESTRIAN.TV about how important it was for her to be the first-ever Nessarose who is also an authentic wheelchair user.
“I think that’s great to set a precedent for other projects to come and other casting to come as well,” she said.
“Just for so many other disabled people out there to be seen, because having someone who is authentically like them, for them to have that, I think that’s incredibly important.
“Although there’s a lot of progress, there hasn’t been as much as I think there should be personally.”
We won’t get to find out exactly what happens until Wicked Part Two drops on 21 November, 2025, but until then… I’m about to go and rewatch Wicked Part One for the millionth time. BRB!
Lead image: Getty & Universal
The post Wicked’s Marissa Bode Says There’s Plot Changes Involving Her Character’s Disability In Part 2 appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
