Wicked: For Good is set to grace cinema screens this Friday (November 21), and fans are on tenterhooks to discover who will be stepping into the role of Dorothy.
Ever since it was confirmed that the young girl from Kansas would be featuring in the film, fans have been eager to find out who the fortunate actress will be.
In the stage version, Dorothy features prominently in the second act. However, in a surprising twist for Wicked: For Good, Dorothy’s screen time will be significantly reduced, deviating from what musical enthusiasts might expect.
Rumours have been swirling about who will don the iconic sparkly red shoes, with big names like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and Alisha Weir being suggested. However, those who were sharp-eyed during exclusive screenings of the film on Monday (November 17) now know the true identity of the actress.
Those lucky enough to secure a preview ticket discovered that Dorothy is portrayed by Bethany Weaver, as reported by RadioTimes. A relatively unknown talent, Bethany is a Surrey-based choreographer with an impressive list of credits to her name, reports the Mirror.
During her career in showbusiness, 30-year-old Bethany has secured roles in productions such as Asmahan at London’s Peacock Theatre. She has also made her mark in musicals like Rumi the Musical and Broken Wings the Musical.
Bethany has yet to publicly address or verify the reports on social media. Nevertheless, she is expected to confirm her involvement when the film officially launches to audiences on Friday.
Despite Bethany securing her first significant film role as the legendary Dorothy in a Hollywood production, numerous fans remain unaware of the actress’s true identity. This is because director Jon M.Chu demanded that Dorothy’s face remain hidden throughout the entire film.
When questioned about the decision to keep Dorothy concealed from viewers, he stated it was to guarantee the audience understood she was not the focal point of the story.
« I didn’t want to step on who you think Dorothy is in whatever story that you came into this with, » he told People.
Chu noted that although Dorothy does feature in the final chapter of the franchise, Wicked: For Good « is still Elphaba and Glinda’s journey, and she is a pawn in the middle of all of it. »
Several other cast members have backed the choice to maintain Dorothy’s anonymity. Cynthia Erivo, who portrays Elphaba in the film adaptation, suggested that audiences will now be able to experience their own personal connection with the movie.
« I think that’s such a wonderful thing to do, because then everyone gets to keep the Dorothy that they know, » she said in an interview with Empire.
Meanwhile, Bethany can claim her appearance in both instalments of the Wicked films, as she is briefly seen at the start of the first film.
Wicked: For Good is released in cinemas on November 21
