One of the biggest mysteries surrounding the November 2025 release of Wicked: For Good has been the casting of Dorothy Gale and her friends from The Wizard of Oz.
Director Jon M. Chu cleverly plotted a slow rollout of casting revelations, first confirming that Ethan Slater’s Munchkin hero Boq Woodsman from 2024’s Wicked would become The Tin Man in For Good. As the release of the sequel neared, it was confirmed that Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero Tigelaar would transform into the Scarecrow, while Euphoria’s Colman Domingo voiced the Cowardly Lion.
The pivotal role of Dorothy Gale ultimately went to English dancer and choreographer Bethany Weaver — though Chu chose to never directly show Dorothy’s face in the musical because he felt it would take away from Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda’s (Ariana Grande) heroic journey.
“I didn’t want to step on who you think Dorothy is in whatever story that you came into this with,” Chu told People in October 2025.
Keep scrolling for more on Weaver and Dorothy’s storyline in Wicked: For Good.
Who Is ‘Wicked: For Good’ Star Bethany Weaver?
Choreographer and dancer Bethany Weaver’s portrayal of Dorothy Gale in Wicked: For Good was leaked in November 2025 when a listing on her Spotlight page mentioned her casting in the sequel. (Spotlight is a casting resource for the U.K. entertainment industry.)
It was reported that same month that those who saw early screenings of Wicked: For Good confirmed that Weaver is credited for the role on screen.
Weaver’s What’s On Stage profile describes her as an actor, dancer and choreographer. She appeared as part of the ensemble in Rumi the Musical and Broken Wings the Musical on U.K. stages. She also performed with the Broken Wings cast in Doha, Qatar, in 2019.
“What an unforgettable, beautiful experience with the @brokenwingsmusical company – so special to perform in Doha and stay at @mondrian_doha where we were so well looked after,” she wrote of Broken Wings via Instagram in November 2019. “Jadore this team and ever growing family. I am so grateful and overwhelmed with what has happened this week. Next stop DUBAI.”
What’s On Stage credited Weaver with having choreographed the West End musical Asmahan at the Peacock Theatre in 2025, while the U.K. press reported that Weaver previously worked as a pilates instructor in Surrey, England, as well.
What Has ‘Wicked: For Good’ Star Bethany Weaver Said About Playing Dorothy Gale?
As of publication, Weaver had not taken part in any of the promotional interviews for Wicked: For Good, seemingly to maintain the mystery around her performance.
Weaver was very active on social media in the lead-up to Wicked: For Good’s release on November 21, 2025, but as of publication, she has yet to post anything about the movie.
Instead, she celebrated her 30th birthday in October 2025 by sharing a brand new professional headshot via Instagram to commemorate “a new era of life.”
“Early 30th Celebrations. Feeling very grateful and extremely loved,” she wrote via Instagram. “Here’s to a continuously exciting life.”
Elsewhere, Weaver shared a photo shoot in celebration of her work with Pilates and Dance U.K. and took her Instagram followers along for a summer vacation to Egypt.
Why ‘Wicked: For Good’ Director Jon M Chu Never Showed Dorothy’s Face
Weaver reportedly only appears on screen in Wicked: For Good for 69 seconds and speaks only six words — though her face is never shown on screen.
Dorothy is crucially involved in a subplot of For Good, where she is accidentally given Nessarose Thropp’s enchanted shoes by Glinda, thus forcing Elphaba to try to track her down.
Prior to the sequel’s release, Chu explained to People that he didn’t show Dorothy’s face in Wicked: For Good because he didn’t want to “step on” people’s memories of The Wizard of Oz.
“This is still Elphaba and Glinda’s journey, and [Dorothy] is a pawn in the middle of all of it,” the filmmaker added.
Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba in the sequel, subsequently told Empire that was a sign of respect to avoid showing Dorothy’s face in For Good.
Universal Studios ; Warner Bros., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are the latest stars to step into the iconic roles of Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West, but how does their film adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked connect to the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz? Even the OG […]
“I think that’s such a wonderful thing to do,” she said. “Because then everyone gets to keep the Dorothy that they know.”
Still, Ariana Grande hinted to the publication that the climactic showdown between Glinda and Dorothy would be one of the most memorable moments in For Good.
“I love the little bit of shadiness that Glinda has towards Dorothy,” she teased. “There’s a lot going on, and she doesn’t really have time to deal with this. She could have told her to take the Emerald City train! But she didn’t. That’s a little shady, Glinda! So I leaned all the way into Glinda sort of having an eye roll for Dorothy whenever she has to deal with her.”
Wicked: For Good hits theaters Friday, November 21.
