Depraved Forged & Character Information: Who Performs Who?

After years of delays and anticipation, the primary half of Jon M. Chu’s sprawling, two-part film adaptation of “Depraved” — the massively widespread Broadway musical primarily based on Gregory Maguire’s retelling of “The Wizard of Oz” — is lastly hitting theaters, and Chu has assembled an all-star forged to convey Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s Broadway hit to the massive display. “Depraved” flips the script on L. Frank Baum’s authentic story about Dorothy (Judy Garland in the basic 1939 “Wizard of Oz” movie) exploring the magical land of Oz by specializing in Elphaba, a younger lady born with inexperienced pores and skin who struggles to slot in on the prestigious Shiz College and in the end turns into the legendary popular culture villain The Depraved Witch of the West (memorably portrayed by Margaret Hamilton within the ’39 film).

So, who’s in Chu’s “Depraved” film, a long time after Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth originated the lead roles of Elphaba and Galinda (the latter of whom turns into the Good Witch, performed by Billy Burke in “The Wizard of Oz”) on stage? From main pop stars to fellow Broadway veterans and Oscar winners, here is who performs who in “Depraved” and precisely how the characters match into the story. (Once more, these are the foremost characters that characteristic in “Depraved: Half One,” as “Half Two” will not hit theaters till November 2025.)

Sadly for Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), the intense inexperienced hue of her pores and skin — which she refers to as “verdigris” in one of many musical’s songs, “The Wizard and I” — units her aside instantly when she arrives at Shiz College. That is nothing new for Elphaba; within the stage musical, it is revealed that her late mom had an affair that resulted in a green-skinned child, main Elphaba’s father to resent her presence without end. (If this sounds darkish, relaxation assured that Elphaba’s entire deal in Gregory Maguire’s authentic ebook is approach darker.) Elphaba’s troubles at Shiz solely intensify when she finally ends up rooming with Galinda Upland (Ariana Grande), a bubbly, widespread pupil who bullies Elphaba at first earlier than the 2 lastly uncover some frequent floor (and turn out to be shut buddies).

For a lot of musical theater followers, it was extremely thrilling to study that Erivo scored the lead function of Elphaba” within the “Depraved” film. Erivo memorably gained a Tony for her function as Celie in “The Shade Purple,” which started its run off-Broadway in 2013 and transferred to the Nice White Approach in 2015. (She gained the statue and a Grammy for Finest Musical Theater Album in 2016 and 2017.) On the massive display, Erivo has starred in main movies like 2018’s “Widows,” the 2019 biopic “Harriet” (which earned her an Oscar nomination for enjoying Harriet Tubman), and Robert Zemeckis’ 2022 remake of “Pinocchio” because the Blue Fairy.

For those who’re frightened about Ariana Grande’s performing chops — since we know she has the vocal vary for a big-screen film musical — permit me to remind you that the lady grew up within the Nickelodeon mines, and she or he’s past prepared for a humorous but emotional lead function that enables her to indicate off her versatility as a performer. When Grande’s Galinda Upland first meets Elphaba, she’s simply as judgmental as all people else because of Elphaba’s inexperienced pores and skin, however after she methods Elphaba into sporting an unsightly hat to a dance as an act of humilitation, Galinda adjustments her tune. All through the primary half of “Depraved,” Elphaba and Galinda turn out to be greatest buddies … solely to be torn aside by political strife in Oz (although that half must look ahead to “Depraved: Half Two”).

Does Grande even actually want an introduction? Simply in case you are utterly unfamiliar with the pop goddess with a 4 octave vocal vary (who’s mastered the super-high whistle register in addition), the two-time Grammy winner and bestselling recording artist is liable for hits like “Break Free,” “Thank U, Subsequent,” and “Sure, And” acquired her begin on Nickelodeon initiatives like “Victorious” and “Sam & Cat.” Except for a cameo in Adam McKay’s 2021 satire “Do not Look Up,” that is Grande’s first main film function, however simply look to her extraordinary activates “Saturday Evening Reside” for proof that she’s acquired what it takes.

At first, it looks like Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible is solely a strict but truthful trainer at Shiz College — particularly when she presents personal classes to Elphaba after bearing witness to the younger green-skinned lady’s magical skills. (Sure, this entire story is ready within the fantastical world of Oz, however not everyone seems to be able to magic; solely true witches and wizards.) Later, although, it is revealed that Madame Morrible is definitely deeply concerned within the authorities’s soiled schemes and works immediately with the corrupt Wizard himself (extra on him in a second), giving the character a heel-turn that Yeoh will, undoubtedly, pull off with aplomb.

Yeoh has been an business staple for a long time, showing in the whole lot from “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” to “Memoirs of a Geisha,” the James Bond flick “Tomorrow By no means Dies,” and the large romantic comedy “Loopy Wealthy Asians.” In 2022, because of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s sci-fi action-comedy “All the things All over the place All at As soon as,” Yeoh not solely booked her first-ever lead function, however she additionally turned the primary Asian lady to win the Academy Award for Finest Actress. Throw in appearances in style fare just like the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and the TV sequence “Star Trek: Discovery,” and you have got a severely achieved and beloved actor who will certainly convey one thing particular to “Depraved.”

Casting Hollywood legend Jeff Goldblum because the enigmatic false god generally known as The Fantastic Wizard of Oz is a stroke of whole genius. Anybody who’s seen “The Wizard of Oz” already is aware of the man is mainly a fraud, however “Depraved” takes his whole charade one step additional and divulges that he is just a few man from Nebraska who crash-landed his sizzling air balloon in Oz and ended up turning into the land’s ruler. Sadly for Elphaba, she desperately desires to satisfy the wizard — no, severely, she sings like three separate songs about hoping to satisfy him to allow them to enhance Oz collectively — and when she does, she learns that he plans to depend on her magical skills for his personal nefarious functions, as a result of he isn’t really a wizard in any respect.

You understand who Goldblum is. Everyone does. The man’s been in the whole lot from “Jurassic Park” to Wes Anderson motion pictures like “The Grand Budapest Resort” to Marvel movies like “Thor: Ragnarok” and the motion thriller “Independence Day,” and general, he is one of the crucial universally adored Hollywood stars round. The Wizard could be a fraud, however Goldblum is the actual deal, and he’ll undoubtedly convey his signature appeal to the function.

Each film wants a heartthrob, and Jonathan Bailey fills that function in “Depraved” as Fiyero Tigelaar, a good-looking Shiv pupil and royal prince who instantly catches each lady’s consideration when he arrives in school. Sadly for Galinda, who’s smitten with him immediately, Fiyero finally ends up forming an sudden bond with Elphaba, and the 2 catch emotions fairly shortly; sadly for all people concerned, the whole lot adjustments after Galinda and Elphaba meet the Wizard and Elphaba mainly turns into the face of the Oz resistance. (We’ll have to attend for “Depraved: Half Two” for that to actually get going, although.)

Bailey is unquestionably used to taking part in a heartthrob after his flip in “Bridgerton” season 2 — the place he carries out a simmering, slow-burn romance as Anthony Bridgerton reverse Simone Ashley’s Kate Sharma — and you will have additionally seen his acclaimed flip within the miniseries “Fellow Vacationers,” the place he carries on a forbidden affair with Matt Bomer. He additionally confirmed up in a serious visitor function in season 3 of Netflix’s swoony teen drama “Heartstopper,” and don’t be concerned, he can sing too. Bailey’s stage resumé is fairly intensive, and in 2019, he gained a Laurence Olivier Award for his function as Jamie in a gender-swapped, London-based manufacturing of “Firm.”

If Jon M. Chu splits “Depraved” up in the very same approach that the Broadway musical divides Act 1 and Act 2, followers must wait a short while to see precisely what occurs with Boq Woodsman, a lovelorn Munchkin performed by Ethan Slater. Proper from the beginning, Boq has a enormous crush on Galinda, however she finally ends up tricking him into asking Elphaba’s youthful sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode, each of whom I am going to circle again to momentarily) to Shiz College’s first huge dance, at which level Nessa falls arduous for Boq. He isn’t going to look notably very important within the first a part of “Depraved,” however file Boq’s entire deal away for subsequent 12 months.

As for Slater, “Depraved” is his first huge movie challenge. On the small display, he is appeared in episodes of reveals like “Legislation & Order: Particular Victims Unit,” “Fosse/Verdon” (the place, by the way, Slater performs Joel Gray, the Broadway veteran who appeared within the authentic Broadway forged of “Depraved” because the Wizard), and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Slater is probably going most well-known at this level for his lead function in “The Spongebob Musical,” which earned him a Tony nomination, and his high-profile relationship with Galinda herself, Ariana Grande.

For those who’ve seen “The Wizard of Oz,” you possibly can most likely determine the destiny that befalls Nessarose Thropp, Elphaba’s paraplegic youthful sister, for those who recall what occurs to the Depraved Witch of the West’s sister. (Here is a touch: she earns an identical title involving the phrase “east.”) Originally of “Depraved,” although, Nessarose — performed by Marissa Bode — is solely a younger and keen pupil excited to be by her sister’s aspect at Shiz, the place she develops an enormous crush on Boq Woodsman after they attend a dance collectively. Very like Boq, Nessarose’s half within the general story is a lot larger within the musical’s second act, so Bode’s full arc must wait till “Depraved: Half Two.”

That is Bode’s first feature-length movie, which is astounding, however she’s additionally making historical past as the primary actor in a wheelchair to ever play Nessarose. (Within the stage adaptation, an able-bodied actor performs the function as a result of Elphaba magically “restores” Nessarose’s legs in Act 2.) “I am genuinely so honored that it is me doing that,” Bode instructed Selection in September 2024. “Seeing anyone authentically forged like that on display is simply so vital, particularly in one thing so cool and so magical as ‘Depraved.'” Concerning that Act 2 plot level, Bode teased that it adjustments a bit, however general, she mentioned she was happy with the movie’s inclusivity and imaginative and prescient. “Casting authentically and exhibiting an genuine disabled particular person is essential, nevertheless it’s additionally crucial how we’re proven,” Bode mentioned. “I’m very proud of the adjustments which were made, for certain.” It’s going to be wonderful to see Bode make her big-screen debut in “Depraved,” and the following film will give this rising star a good larger showcase.

A serious subplot in “Depraved” that has nothing to do with witchcraft or wizardry is a rising “anti-animal” sentiment all through Oz, which means that any capital-A “Animals” who can communicate English and mainly reside as people are immediately seen as an issue in society. Early within the musical, Physician Dillamond (a goat) reveals to Elphaba that the Ozian authorities has expressed curiosity in caging Animals and that there is even a bigger, darker conspiracy to forged a spell upon all Animals to cease them from talking ever once more. Elphaba is outraged and pledges to assist Physician Dillamond and his type in any approach that she will, however the good physician finally ends up fired from Shiz College … and as soon as once more, you will have to attend and see what occurs to Physician Dillamond within the second half of “Depraved.”

In Jon M. Chu’s film, Physician Dillamond is a CGI creation, however he is voiced by Peter Dinklage, winner of a number of Emmys and one other universally adored Hollywood staple. Audiences most likely know Dinklage greatest for his eight-season run on “Sport of Thrones” as fan favourite Tyrion Lannister — a job which gained Dinklage a whopping 4 Emmys — however he is additionally appeared in enormous initiatives like “Elf,” “Three Billboards Exterior Ebbing, Missouri,” and style fare like “The Starvation Video games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” “X-Males: Days of Future Previous,” and “Avengers: Infinity Warfare.” 

Galinda’s buddies and henchmen Pfannee and ShenShen — performed within the movie by Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James — aren’t enormous characters in Gregory Maguire’s ebook or the Broadway musical, however their roles are undoubtedly expanded within the film … and so they’re fairly totally different in addition. For starters, Pfannee is a woman within the ebook however turned a queer man when Yang joined the forged, and ShenShen will get elevated from an ensemble character within the musical to somebody with precise display time. So, the place have you ever seen Yang and James earlier than?

Yang is unquestionably greatest identified for his ongoing function as a repertory participant on “Saturday Evening Reside” in addition to for his roles in motion pictures like “Hearth Island” and “Bros” and TV reveals like “Girls5Eva” and “The Different Two.” (Yang can be extraordinarily shut together with his “Depraved” co-star Ariana Grande and, in anticipation of the movie, hosted her on “Las Culturistas,” his widespread podcast with Matt Rogers.) As for James, the British actor has appeared in single episodes of reveals like “Ghosts,” “Outlander,” and “Gradual Horses,” and performed a serious function on the sequence “Harlots” as Fanny Lambert.

“Depraved” will open in theaters on November 22, 2024.