A deleted scene from Wicked explains why Glinda can't perform magic in the movie. The story of Wicked follows Elphaba and Glinda, who eventually become known as the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the North, respectively. Wicked follows Elphaba and Glinda as they form an unlikely friendship as students at Shiz University. In Wicked, Glinda is immediately jealous of Elphaba's magical abilities, as she can't perform sorcery herself. This is interesting, since Glinda eventually becomes a highly respected witch in the world of Oz.
Reviews for Wicked have been exceptional, and the film currently has a score of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes (via Rotten Tomatoes). Almost all reviews of Wicked have praised the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda. Both Elphaba and Glinda received a lot of screen time in Wicked, but several scenes featuring them were still cut out of the film. One specific deleted scene from Wicked features Elphaba suggesting a reason as to why Glinda can't perform magic in the movie.
Elphaba Thinks Glinda Can't Do Magic Because She Doesn't Need It In A Wicked Deleted Scene
Glinda Has Lived A Much More Privileged Life Than Elphaba
One deleted scene from Wicked takes place right after Glinda and the rest of her classmates are knocked out during Doctor Dillamond's arrest. After Elphaba and Fiyero save the lion cub in the forest, she returns to Shiz and has a heart-to-heart with Glinda. During their conversation in this deleted scene, Elphaba and Glinda discuss how the latter is having trouble learning sorcery. Elphaba suggests that Glinda has never been able to perform magic because she has never needed to.
Related
Elphaba and Glinda's friendship is the primary storyline of Wicked, spanning a few years as they meet at school and try to save Oz afterward.
Elphaba and Glinda are very different characters in Wicked. While Elphaba has always been an outcast because of her green skin, Glinda has always fit in with others in society. Glinda has always been accepted, and even worshiped, by those around her. Therefore, in the deleted scene, Elphaba tries to explain that Glinda has never been in a situation that required her to use magic because she hasn't faced that much adversity in her life.
Elphaba's Explanation For Glinda Not Doing Magic In Wicked Is Perfect
Glinda Might Use Magic In Wicked: For Good
Even though she struggles to perform magic at Shiz University, Glinda can seemingly use magic in Munchkinland later in the story. It is true that Glinda hasn't been able to use magic so far in her life, but her life becomes a lot more complicated when she meets Elphaba. Together, they discover that The Wizard and Madame Morrible are behind the harsh treatment of animals in Oz. While Elphaba leaves Emerald City at the end of Wicked, Glinda stays behind.
The events of Wicked 2 could lead to Glinda eventually using magic.
Since Glinda stays behind, she will be put in the hardest position of her life in the upcoming Wicked: For Good. The events of Wicked 2 could lead to Glinda eventually using magic. Therefore, Elphaba's explanation of Glinda's lack of powers makes perfect sense, as Glinda will only unlock her true magical potential when she is forced to make difficult decisions in Wicked: For Good. It will be exciting if Glinda is finally able to perform magic in the upcoming sequel after struggling in Wicked.
Wicked Already Teased Glinda Might Not Learn Real Magic
Glinda Might Use The Wizard's Tech Instead Of Magic In Wicked 2
From the perspective of the residents of Munchkinland at the beginning of Wicked, Glinda can use magic, since she travels through the air in a bubble. In the Wicked Broadway musical, it is implied that the bubble Glinda travels in is one of The Wizards contraptions. Therefore, since a concrete answer is never provided in the musical, whether Glinda can actually perform magic or not has been a subject of debate for several years. However, the Wicked movie seems to confirm that the bubble was indeed created by The Wizard.
Related
Wicked Proves That The Wizard Of Oz's Yellow Brick Road Should Have Been A Different Color
In 2024’s Wicked, a brief scene between the Wizard, Glinda, and Elphaba proves that the iconic Yellow Brick Road should’ve been a different color.
3
At the beginning of Wicked, Glinda appears to touch a button to open and close the bubble. More emphasis will likely be put on this detail in Wicked: For Good, but this seems to confirm that Glinda may never perform actual magic. Glinda using The Wizard's creations to make it seem like she can perform magic is actually quite sad, as this is exactly how The Wizard tricks the people of Oz into believing he's much more powerful than he actually is. Glinda using The Wizard's contraption suggests that she is compensating for not actually being capable of magic.
Glinda Could Learn Magic For Real In Wicked 2 For The Reasons Elphaba Describes
Wicked: For Good Might Prove That Elphaba Was Right About Glinda
It is important to note that a definite answer to whether Glinda can use magic is never provided in the Broadway musical. Therefore, even though the bubble appears to be made by The Wizard, it's still possible that Glinda will still perform magic in Wicked 2. Realistically, Wicked: For Good can choose whether it wants to portray Glinda as a magic-user or not. This scene being cut from Wicked suggests that this might not be a plot point in Wicked: For Good. However, the first film still does stress that Glinda wants to perform magic.
Ariana Grande will perform a brand-new, original song as Glinda in Wicked: For Good, which will provide more insight into her thoughts and feelings.
Therefore, Glinda unlocking her full potential and using magic in Wicked: For Good would not be completely out of the blue. In Wicked: For Good, Glinda will be part of The Wizard's administration and work with him and Madame Morrible. This will put Glinda in a tough position, since she will be torn between the current system, which has benefited her throughout her life, and her friendship with Elphaba. Even though Elphaba and Glinda seperate at the end of Wicked, Glinda still cares for her friend very much.
Glinda's feelings for Elphaba will affect how she views both The Wizard and Madame Morrible. She likely won't agree with a lot of the decisions they make in Wicked: For Good, which will put her in the most difficult position of her life. Based on Elphaba and Glinda's conversation in this deleted scene, it's possible that being in this difficult position in Wicked 2 will allow her to finally perform magic. After seeing her struggling in Wicked, the upcoming Wicked: For Good will hopefully confirm whether or not Glinda is capable of performing magic.
Your Rating
Rate Now 0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Success!
Wicked
PG
Adventure
Fantasy
Musical
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.
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
*Availability in US
- Release Date
- November 22, 2024
- Runtime
- 160 Minutes
- Main Genre
- Musical
- Cast
- Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, Peter Dinklage, Aaron Teoh, Grecia De la Paz, Colin Michael Carmichael, Adam James, Andy Nyman, Courtney Mae-Briggs, Sharon D. Clarke, Jenna Boyd
- Character(s)
- Elphaba Thropp, Glinda Upland, Madame Morrible, The Wizard, Fiyero Tigelaar, Boq, Nessarose Thropp, Pfannee, ShenShen, Miss Coddle, Doctor Dillamond (voice), Avaric Tenmeadows, Gilligan, Professor Nikidik, Glinda's Father, Governor Frexspar Thropp, Melena Thropp, The Midwife
- Director
- Jon M. Chu
- Writers
- Gregory Maguire, Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox, L. Frank Baum
- Studio(s)
- Marc Platt Productions
- Distributor(s)
- Universal Pictures
