Wicked
Bowen Yang ’s entertaining performance inWicked , construct up for not appearing in another megahit that was released last year . The much - forestall adaptation of the acclaimed Broadway musical , Wickedexplores the beginning of the Wicked Witch of the West and her relationship with Glinda the Good Witch , during their clock time at Shiz University . Bowen Yang appears aspart of the cast ofWicked , as Pfannee , one of Glinda ’s friends at the university , who greatly admires her peach and popularity .
Since 2018,Bowen Yang has made a name for himself in the entertainment industry as a comic and actor , earning recognition as a large plaster bandage extremity ofSaturday Night Live . In 2021 , he made history by becoming the firstSNLactor to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award ( viaNBC News ) . Yang ’s comedic skills helped him to stand out inWicked -and his performance more than make up for a missed opportunity from the previous year .
Bowen Yang Was Forced To Turn Down An Appearance In Barbie
Bowen Yang Was Approached To Appear As Part Of The Kensemble
Since its discharge in November 2024,Wickedhas been compared to the winner ofBarbie , which was released to both critical and commercial-grade acclaim in 2023.Wicked’sbox office has been compared toBarbie’s$1.4 billion draw , and is limit to become as successful as the 2023 drama . Similar toWicked , Barbiealso admit an ensemble cast , include Simu Liu , Kingsley Ben - Adir and John Cena , who all appeared as part of the " Kensemble , " the name given to the movie ’s gather of Ken ’s . During production , Bowen Yang was one of several actor come on by filmmakers to make a cameo appearance inBarbie .
Barbie was filled with iconic cameos but there were some missed chance for Edgar Guest appearances that would ’ve made the pic even well .
Barbiecasting director , Allison Jones and Lucy Bevan , come near Yang about a likely appearance as part of the Kensemble , but he sour down the chance ( viaVanity Fair ) . The movie was take in 2022 , during COVID-19 restraints which required histrion to delay in London for three months . Due to his ongoing loyalty to the forty-seventh time of year ofSaturday Night Live , Yang was force to turn down the cameo , which forced him to leave out out on the chance to join the Kensemble inBarbie .
Ariana Grande Helped Yang Gain His Role In Wicked
Grande Helped Yang Compromise A Schedule For Both SNL & Wicked
Yang has credited Ariana Grande for helping him take in the purpose of Pfannee inWicked . In the outpouring - up to the moving-picture show ’s freeing , Grande appeared onThe Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon , where she talked about her experience on the set of the flick and her least sandpiper as a guest host onSaturday Night Live . During her stint onSNL , Grande appear alongside Bowen Yang in the segment " sendup With Mom"as a competitive mother meeting her Word ’s boyfriend for the first time ( viaNBC ) . Grande described Yang as " phenomenal " as Pfannee and discussed with Fallon how she oversee to secure the part for Yang .
Grande contacted Lorne Michaels , the creator and producer ofSaturday Night Live , and requested that Yang be leave to take part in the motion-picture photography ofWicked . In an interview withTODAY , Yang expose there were nonindulgent rules that noSNLcast member is permit to make movies during time of year , but Grande managed to carry Michaels to allow Yang to filmWicked(viaYahoo News).Yang and Michaels were able to compromise a docket , so Yang could vanish between New York and London to take bothSNLandWicked(viaPajiba ) .
Yang’s Performance In Wicked Offers An Idea Of What Ken He Could Have Been
His Skills In Comedy Would Have Been Perfect For Barbie
ThroughoutWicked , Yang ’s character , Pfannee , appears alongside Shenshen ( Bronwyn James ) , and the two pass their time congratulate Glinda and affront Elphaba . One notable setting sees Pfannee and Shenshen carry Glinda to give Elphaba a black hatto wear at the Ozfest Ball , which leads toGlinda and Elphaba ’s dance together . Later , Pfannee expresses his admiration and delightwhen Glinda announces her name change , state " she ’s so intrepid " about her conclusion . Yang portrays Pfannee as comedic , flamboyant and coquettish , in a gender - swapped role from the original musical comedy , where Pfannee was portrayed as distaff .
Bowen Yang ’s performance as Pfannee offers an musical theme of what bod of Ken he could have played , had he been available to seem asone of the Kens inBarbie . The Kensemble was see one of the best aspects of theBarbiemovie , thanks to the large variety of different Kens limn on screen . Had Yang been useable to seem inBarbie , his comedic skills would have been utterly utilized as part of the rivalry between Stereotypical Ken and Ken # 2 andthe viral execution of"I’m Just Ken . “However , his special performance inWickedmore than makes up for him missing out on 2023’sBarbieblockbuster .
Sources : NBC , Yahoo News , Pajiba
distasteful adapts the Broadway musical into a two - part film , following the unlikely friendly relationship between Elphaba , born with green skin , and Glinda , a popular aristocrat , in the Land of Oz . As they sail their contrasting paths , they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West .
Image via Universal Pictures
Image via Universal Pictures
