The cinematic sequel Wicked: For Good has captivated audiences, but one detail has particularly intrigued fans: Dorothy's iconic footwear is silver, not the expected ruby red. The film's costume designer has now revealed the fascinating historical and legal reasons behind this deliberate change.
Honouring Literary Origins Over Cinematic Tradition
In the new film, a brief appearance is made by Dorothy, the protagonist from The Wizard of Oz. While the beloved 1939 film starring Judy Garland cemented sparkling ruby slippers in popular culture, costume designer Paul Tazewell explained to People magazine that this was not the author's original vision. "They're not ruby," Tazewell stated. "In the book, they were these odd little silver boots." The original 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum indeed described them as silver.
The shift to red was a creative decision made by MGM for the Technicolor film, eager to showcase the vibrant new colour process. For the sequel, Tazewell chose to revert to Baum's initial concept, honouring the source material by giving Dorothy distinctive silver heels.
Legal Boundaries and Narrative Significance
Another crucial factor in the design choice involves modern copyright. The rights to the specific imagery of the ruby red slippers are held by Warner Bros., which now owns MGM. However, the Wicked films are distributed by Universal Pictures. Director Jon M. Chu confirmed to Variety that this created "boundaries of what we could reference or not," leading to the definitive decision: "we never use the ruby slippers."
Within the story's plot, the slippers are a pivotal element. Originally a heirloom belonging to Elphaba's sister, Nessarose (Marissa Bode), they are later gifted to Dorothy by Glinda (Ariana Grande). This act enrages Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), setting key events in motion as she pursues Dorothy to reclaim her family's property.
A Record-Breaking Cinematic Debut
Audiences are clearly responding to these creative choices. Wicked: For Good, which opened in theatres on Friday, is already on a record-breaking path. The film has amassed an impressive $151 million domestically and $228 million globally, positioning it to become the biggest debut ever for a Broadway adaptation.
The sequel continues the story a year after the Oscar-nominated first film, showing Elphaba in exile and Glinda enjoying fame in the Emerald City. The cast sees the return of Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, and Michelle Yeoh, with Colman Domingo joining as the voice of the Cowardly Lion. Wicked: For Good is now showing in cinemas worldwide.
