Is Dr. Dillamond Returning for the 'Wicked' Movie Musical? Fans Speculate Over Character's Absence
'Wicked' enthusiasts are buzzing with speculation about Dr. Dillamond's possible absence from the upcoming movie musical, sparked by a notable omission in a recent 'Vanity Fair' cast photo. Will the beloved character make a cinematic comeback? The excitement and uncertainty among theater fans are palpable.
Will Dr Dillamond Be in Wicked Movie Musical Why Theater Fans Are Freaking Out 381
Sophy Holland/Universal Pictures/Vanity Fair
Wicked fans are aware of the important role that Dr. Dillamond plays in Elphaba and Glinda's journeys. However, it remains uncertain whether this character will make an appearance in the upcoming movie musical.
The cast of Wicked, featuring stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, recently gathered for a group photo shoot for Vanity Fair. The portrait was released on Thursday, March 21st. Erivo, aged 37, and Grande, aged 30, were dressed in their characters' costumes as Elphaba and Galinda/Glinda. They were accompanied by Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero), Ethan Slater (Boq), Jeff Goldblum (The Wizard), Michelle Yeoh (Madame Morrible), Marissa Bode (Nessarose), Bowen Yang (Pfannee), and Bronwyn James (ShenShen).
The photo captured the entire cast posing together in their costumes for the first time. However, keen theater fans quickly noticed that a key member of the Shiz University faculty was missing.
Some fans took to X to comment on the absence of Dr. Dillamond in the glam photoshoot. One fan questioned, "Where is Dr. Dillamond?" while another wondered, "Who will be playing Dr. Dillamond?"
Some social media users were guessing that leaving Dillamond out of the cast photo could lead to an exciting surprise later on.
One user on X platform suggested, "The reveal of Dr. Dillamond is going to be either fantastic or Jmes Crden," choosing to censor the name of Tony-winning actor James Corden.
Some suggested that Idina Menzel, the original Elphaba on Broadway, could potentially take on the role in the first gender-swapped version of the character.
Wicked, a movie adaptation split into two parts directed by Jon M. Chu, has not yet confirmed if Dillamond will be included in the film or who will portray him. IMDb lists Alfredo Tavares as an unnamed teacher and Keala Settle as a new character named Miss Coddle, but it remains uncertain if either will assume the role of Dillamond.
The movie musical "Wicked" is based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel and the stage show of the same name. Both versions are prequels featuring the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch long before Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz arrives. The two witches become roommates during their first semester at Shiz University.
One of their professors at Shiz University is Dillamond, a talking goat who struggles to pronounce "Galinda" correctly. He ends up shortening it to "Glinda," a name that Grande's character will eventually embrace.
Chu, who is 44 years old, felt the pressure of living up to expectations when it came to bringing Shiz University to life on the big screen. He knew he had a huge task ahead of him.
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Chu shared his childhood dream of creating a movie like Hook, without the use of CGI effects. He recalled being inspired by Steven Spielberg's approach to filming behind the scenes, with a real pirate ship on a dock. Chu expressed his desire to recreate that magical experience if given the opportunity.
The first Wicked movie premieres November 27, one year before part 2 will be released in theaters.
Editor's P/S:
The absence of Dr.
