The highly anticipated sequel to the hit musical film Wicked is making waves not just at the box office, but also with a fascinating costume detail that corrects a century-old cinematic change. Wicked: For Good, now in cinemas, has chosen to depict Dorothy's famous footwear as silver slippers, a direct homage to L. Frank Baum's original 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Why Silver, Not Ruby?
For audiences familiar only with the classic 1939 film starring Judy Garland, the sparkling ruby red slippers are an indelible image. However, the sequel's costume designer, Paul Tazewell, has revealed that the change is a deliberate return to the source material. In an interview with People, Tazewell confirmed that in Baum's book, the shoes were described as "odd little silver boots."
The reason for the iconic colour change in the 1939 movie was largely technological. The film was shot in Technicolor, and the studio, MGM, wanted to spectacularly showcase the new colour process. Costume designer Gilbert Adrian was given creative freedom, leading to the creation of the now-famous ruby red slippers.
Furthermore, a modern legal boundary influenced the decision. Warner Bros., which now owns MGM, holds the rights to the specific imagery of the ruby slippers. Since the Wicked films are distributed by Universal Pictures, director Jon M. Chu had to navigate these restrictions. Chu told Variety, "we never use the ruby slippers," making the shift to silver a creative and practical necessity.
The Slippers' Role in the Plot
The silver slippers are far more than a mere aesthetic choice; they are a crucial plot device. In the Wicked narrative, the slippers are originally a family heirloom belonging to Elphaba's sister, Nessarose, portrayed by Marissa Bode. After Nessarose's death, Glinda the Good Witch (Ariana Grande) gifts them to Dorothy.
This act ignites the fury of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the Wicked Witch of the West, who is already living in exile. Discovering that her family's precious heirloom has been given away propels her to pursue Dorothy, setting key events of the story in motion.
A Record-Breaking Debut
Since its release on Friday, Wicked: For Good is on track to shatter box office records. The film is poised to become the biggest debut ever for a Broadway adaptation. It has already amassed an impressive $151 million domestically and $228 million globally.
The film continues the story a year after the Oscar-nominated first instalment, adapting the second act of the Broadway musical. The cast sees the return of stars including Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Bowen Yang, Michelle Yeoh, and Ethan Slater. Colman Domingo joins the ensemble as the voice of the Cowardly Lion.
Wicked: For Good is showing in cinemas across the UK now.
