Wicked

WickedandThe Wizard of Ozboth explore the wondrous globe of Oz , but they came out 85 year apart . Therefore , there were bind to be some major changes to how Oz would be presented onscreen . In 1939 , Dorothy entered the world of Oz and travel along the xanthous brick route . Along the mode , TV audience were introduced to character reference like the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch of the South . Wickedserves as aprequel to 1939’sThe Wizard of Oz , and is based on the Broadway musical of the same name , as well as the 1995 novelWicked : The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West .

The account ofWickedfollows Elphaba , who will later become known as the Wicked Witch of the West , as she spring an unlikely friendly relationship with Glinda at Shiz University . Thecast ofWickedincludes Cynthia Erivo , Ariana Grande - Butera , Jonathan Bailey , Michelle Yeoh , Jeff Goldblum , and Ethan Slater . Slater play Boq inWicked , a Munchkin who is a student at Shiz University . However , Slater looks muchdifferent from how Munchkins look inThe Wizard of Oz .

Wicked’s Munchkins Are The Right Height Based On The Book

Munchkins Are Meant To Be The Same Height As Dorothy

After find out Ethan Slater portray a Munchkin inWicked , some fan who have only seenThe Wizard of Ozmay be confused , since he is taller than the Munchkins that Dorothy fill in that movie . However , Munchkins are actually described as the same height as Dorothy in the originalWizard of Ozbook . In the book , Dorothy is only 10 years quondam . Since Judy Garland was 16 when she played Dorothy , they aged the character up and establish that she was 12 . Therefore , Munchkins are meant to be the same height as a girl around the age of 10 - 12 .

Many fans have come to think that Munchkins are mean to be shorter than Dorothy , but Boq ’s summit inWickedis actually exact , according to the record book .

Obviously , this is n’t very magniloquent , but it is taller than how Munchkins are portrayed inThe Wizard of Ozmovie . The Munchkins who Dorothy meets are all importantly shorter than her . This is a majorchange betweenThe Wizard of OzandWicked , and was also one of the most significant modification betweenThe Wizard of Oznovel and the movie . Since the movie is more well - bang by general audiences than the book , many lover have arrive to consider that Munchkins are intend to be short than Dorothy , but Boq ’s tallness inWickedis in reality accurate , concord to the Good Book .

Wicked - Poster

Why The Wizard Of Oz Changed The Munchkins' Height

The Portrayal Of Munchkins In The Wizard of Oz Is Very Controversial

There is no known reason why the creative squad behindThe Wizard of Ozmovie decide to change the Munchkins heights . However , The Wizard of OzandWickedare a prime example of unlike creative decisions being made for movies that are being filmed at different times . The Wizard of Ozwas made at a time when citizenry were a lot less conscious of how certain creative decisions could offend mass . Therefore , all the Munchkins inThe Wizard of Ozare spiel by people of short stature .

While some of the characters in Wicked were from The Wizard of Oz , others are unique to the 2024 prequel film .

This was an unnecessary change from the book , butsince they are called Munchkins , it is possible that the producers ofThe Wizard of Ozthought it made the most common sense for them to be drastically shorter than other characters . However , the squad behindThe Wizard of Oztook this a footstep further and viewed the Munchkins as comic fill-in in the movie . This makes their personation in the 1939 movie even more controversial , since it does n’t seem like any of the Munchkins are being treated seriously as quality .

An edited image of Ethan Slater as Boq and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard in Wicked.

Custom Image by Max Ruscinski

Wicked’s Casting Kept The Munchkins Shorter Than Other Cast Members

In reality , the Munchkins are really very of import in the world of Oz . They domiciliate in Munchkin Country , one of themain regions of Oz , and are known for their agriculture skill . InWicked , Boq is a Munchkin who is an authoritative supporting quality in the story . The Wicked Witch of the East misuse Boq as her personal servant and acts as a oppressive loss leader for the Munchkins . At the end ofWicked’sstory , Boq will be turned into Tin Man , who play a crucial office inThe Wizard of Oz .

Since Boq is such a noted character inWicked , his casting was very crucial for the picture . Wickeddirector Jon M. Chu at long last ended up casting Ethan Slater , who is 5 foot . 5 , for the character of Boq . Therefore , just like the critically - acclaimed Broadway melodic , Munchkins are still shorter than most the great unwashed in theWickedmovie . This can be seen in the film when Boq has to stand on some Christian Bible to be at eye level with Fiyero . However , Boq and other Munchkins inWickedare not nearly as short as they were inThe Wizard of Oz .

Wicked’s Director Wanted To Reinvent The Munchkins With The Movie

Slater Became The Blueprint For Munchkins In Wicked

How the Munckins were depict inThe Wizard of Ozhas progressively been view as more controversial as the years have depart by . Therefore , the Broadway musical present Munchkins as more exact to the book , and theWickedmovie has followed suit . In fact , Jon M. Chu wanted to reinvent Munchkins in theWickedmovie . After casting Ethan Slater as Boq , Chu decided that all Munchkins would be mock up based on Slater ’s likeness . Therefore , Munchkins inWickedall have reddish hair and a honest peel complexion .

The Wicked movie brought all the birdcall from the Broadway musical ’s first deed to the screen , and though each is large , they were n’t create adequate .

Chu did not perceive Munchkins as having to be a specific size , which is different to how they were comprehend in the 1939 movie . While Chu acknowledged that Munckins are typically shorter than most of the other characters , he made certain that their portraiture inWickedwould not be vile . compare toThe Wizard of Oz , in which Munchkins come across as more subservient , Boq and other Munchkins inWickedare clearly a mass more individualistic . This is a positive change to the humans of Oz , and shows how much our own world has progressed sinceThe Wizard of Oz .

The Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz

Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

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Cast

severe adapts the Broadway musical into a two - part film , following the improbable friendship between Elphaba , bear with greenish skin , and Glinda , a popular patrician , in the Land of Oz . As they navigate their contrasting paths , they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West .

Dorothy and the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz

Madame-Morrible-and-Doctor-Dillamond-from.Wicked

Ethan Slater as Boq, smiling on the Wicked poster

A composite image of Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda in Wicked

Headshot Of Cynthia Erivo

Headshot Of Ariana Grande In The 2024 Met Gala

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Wicked