The Truth About Dorothy: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Her Role In The Wicked Movie

The question of whether Dorothy Gale is actually a character in Wicked is one of the most enduring mysteries for fans of the beloved musical and the new two-part movie adaptation. As of the latest updates in December 2025, the answer is a definitive yes, but her presence is not what most people expect. The film adaptation, particularly the second part, Wicked: For Good, brings the story closer than ever to the events of The Wizard of Oz, making Dorothy’s role—and the actress who plays her—a crucial, though often subtle, element of the narrative.

The story of Wicked, based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, serves as a prequel and parallel narrative to L. Frank Baum's classic, focusing on the life of Elphaba (the future Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (the Good Witch of the North). Dorothy’s arrival is the catalyst that sets the final act into motion, culminating in the tragic transformation and eventual fate of Elphaba. Her character is the silent, powerful force that drives the final confrontation and closes the circle between the two iconic Oz stories.

Who Plays Dorothy Gale in the Wicked Movie and Her Crucial Role

For the highly anticipated two-part Universal Pictures film, directed by Jon M. Chu, a specific actress was cast to portray the iconic Kansas girl, even though her face is often obscured or her presence is felt indirectly. This casting choice was a closely guarded secret, adding to the mystique of her character's appearance.

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Bethany Weaver: The New Face of Dorothy

• Actress: Bethany Weaver.
• Background: Weaver is a British theater actress and dancer, making her feature film debut in the Wicked movies.
• Role in Wicked (Part One): Her presence is primarily felt through the arrival of her farm house in Oz, which is the event that kills Nessarose.
• Role in Wicked: For Good (Part Two): Her role becomes more direct and pivotal in the sequel. She is the character who is commanded by the Wizard to bring him the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West, directly linking the prequel story to the classic Wizard of Oz plot.
• The Unseen Character: While a real actress was needed for the role, the character of Dorothy is often not seen clearly on screen in the first movie, honoring the musical's tradition of keeping her a shadowy, yet powerful, figure.

The Five Pivotal Moments Where Dorothy Intersects With Elphaba's Story

Dorothy Gale is not a main character in Wicked, but her arrival fundamentally changes the course of Elphaba and Glinda's lives. Her character acts as the final piece of the puzzle, the unwitting agent of the Wizard's plan, and the catalyst for the tragedy that defines the Wicked Witch of the West.

1. The House That Fell on Nessarose

The first and most devastating point of intersection is the moment Dorothy's house lands in Oz. This event is not an accident; in the Wicked narrative, it is orchestrated by Madame Morrible. The house kills Elphaba's sister, Nessarose, who was the Wicked Witch of the East. This tragic event is the final blow that pushes Elphaba to fully embrace her "wicked" identity and seek vengeance against the regime in the Emerald City. It is a moment of profound loss that Dorothy, the innocent victim of a tornado, unknowingly causes.

2. The Coveted Silver Slippers

Immediately after the house lands, Dorothy is given the magical Silver Slippers (which are Ruby Slippers in the 1939 film adaptation of The Wizard of Oz). In Wicked, these slippers originally belonged to Nessarose. Glinda, in her public persona as the Good Witch, gives them to Dorothy as a performance for the public, solidifying Dorothy's role as a hero and further cementing Elphaba's status as a villain. Elphaba tries to reclaim the slippers, as they are a family heirloom, but is unable to, creating another layer of resentment.

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3. The Wizard's Command

The second film, Wicked: For Good, will directly feature the most famous part of Dorothy's quest: her mission to kill the Wicked Witch. The Wizard commands Dorothy and her companions (the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion) to bring him the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West. This command is the direct motivation for Dorothy to seek out Elphaba's castle, which is the ultimate confrontation that resolves the prequel story and leads into the events of The Wizard of Oz.

4. The Bucket of Water Incident

The iconic scene where Dorothy "melts" the Wicked Witch of the West with a bucket of water is the climax of their relationship. Wicked reframes this moment not as a simple act of heroism, but as the final, tragic misunderstanding of Elphaba's intentions. While Dorothy believes she is defeating a villain, the audience of Wicked understands that she is merely fulfilling a prophecy and a political agenda, enabling Elphaba's final act of self-sacrifice and escape.

5. The Broadway Musical vs. The Movie

In the original Broadway musical, Dorothy's presence is mostly implied or happens off-stage. The two-part movie adaptation, however, makes her presence more explicit and visible, particularly in Wicked: For Good. This change allows the film to more directly connect the emotional arc of Elphaba and Glinda with the established canon of The Wizard of Oz, making the narrative bridge between the two stories much stronger and more consistent.

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Topical Authority: The Complex Relationship Between Wicked and The Wizard of Oz

The brilliance of Wicked lies in its ability to take an established villain—the Wicked Witch of the West—and recontextualize her story, turning her into a misunderstood hero named Elphaba. Dorothy Gale, the hero of the original story, becomes an unwitting antagonist in this new narrative.

This narrative device, known as a revisionist fairy tale, is what gives Wicked its emotional weight. Dorothy is the symbol of the established order, the "good" that is celebrated by the corrupt Wizard's regime. She is innocent and pure, yet her actions, driven by the Wizard's deceit, lead to the downfall of the person who was trying to expose the truth about Oz. The story is a masterful exploration of how history is written by the victors, and how a person's reputation can be permanently distorted by propaganda and fear.

The two-part film adaptation, by casting Bethany Weaver and giving the character a more tangible presence, underscores the theme that Elphaba’s tragedy is inherently tied to Dorothy’s arrival. Elphaba’s final, powerful song, "For Good," is a moment of reflection on the impact she and Glinda have had on each other, but the entire final act is a race against the clock of Dorothy’s journey, demonstrating that even a seemingly small character can have an earth-shattering impact on the lives of others in a complex, magical world.

Key Entities and Concepts in the Wicked Universe:

• Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West)
• Glinda (The Good Witch of the North)
• Fiyero (Elphaba's love interest)
• The Wizard of Oz
• Madame Morrible (The Wizard's accomplice)
• Nessarose (Elphaba’s sister, the Wicked Witch of the East)
• Boq (The Tin Man)
• Dr. Dillamond (The talking Goat professor)
• The Silver Slippers (The Ruby Slippers)
• The Emerald City
• Munchkinland
• Gregory Maguire (Author of the novel)
• L. Frank Baum (Author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
• Wicked: For Good (The second movie part)
• Revisionist Fairy Tale (The genre of the story)
• Bethany Weaver (Dorothy's actress)