Wicked enthusiasts have been taken aback by the scarecrow's transformation in the franchise's latest instalment, Wicked: For Good, now in cinemas. The film, the second part of the blockbuster musical adaptation, follows the 2024 release starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. It serves as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, exploring Elphaba's relationship with Glinda.
The scarecrow, named Fiyero, is Elphaba's romantic partner. In The Wizard of Oz, the scarecrow lacks intellect, but Wicked delves deeper into his identity. Fiyero, originally a Winkie prince, aids Elphaba during her escape. She performs a spell to rescue him, transforming him into a scarecrow during the musical number No Good Deed. Later, Elphaba stages her own death and escapes Oz with Fiyero in his scarecrow form.
Jonathan Bailey, known for his role as Lord Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton, portrays the scarecrow. Some viewers questioned whether the transformation used practical effects or CGI. One Reddit user commented: 'The scarecrow and tinman are NOT CGI. The scarecrow took 3-4 hrs in hair, makeup and prosthetics.' Another remarked: 'It's phenomenal really, they did so well!'
However, not all reactions were positive. One viewer wrote: 'Lol not me wishing they'd used more cgi for the scarecrow. Him appearing on screen was like a jump scare!' Another added: 'I actually loved the slightly horrific nature of the tin man and scarecrow transformations, genuinely scary asf.' A third said: 'Fiyero as the scarecrow made me want to throw up... it's very uncanny valley.'
