the WICKED movie has found its Fiyero | thoughts on Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero

OHMYGOD HEY!

The long anticipated film adaptation of WICKED has finally announced who will be playing Fiyero opposite previously confirmed stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

Director Jon M Chu revealed via Twitter that Bridgerton star and Olivier Award-Winning Theatre actor Jonsthan Bailey would be 'dancing through life' as Fiyero in the two part film.

In this video I'm discussing what this means for the film and asking the most important questions about Jonathan Bailey...

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#theatre #theater #broadway #wicked #wickedmovie #bridgerton

[emmybm]

Oh gosh yes Fiyero having his own version of "I'm not that girl" would be absolutely brilliant! Now I really need that to happen 😅💚

[mastelsa]

I've always thought that Fiyero should have had at least single verse in "Couldn't Be Happier, " or possibly his own reprise of it. Fiyero's growth mainly happens through dialogue, and it does feel like there's a missing piece to his development because we don't get anything musical from him between "Dancing Through Life" and "As Long As You're Mine." By musical convention, the turning point in his character arc not being set to music makes it inherently less important and impactful than any of the moments that get musical numbers, and it seems like an extremely good way to bulk up the story in a way that truly adds something to the musical. I don't want to cut Glinda's part down, but "Couldn't Be Happier" feels like something she and Fiyero should both be expressing musically, each unaware that the other is unhappy.

[cannotthinkofausername]

I definitely think that Fiyero singing about his feelings for Elphaba would be perfect

[finsfables]

“Crikey! It’s Glinda” Made me laugh so hard oh my god

[laurakistemaker]

Jonathan is such a great actor!
I him in crashing! So hot and so funny
I loved him in Company as well so I am about this news

[olivethunderbird]

“Instead of flying off the F*cking handle” 😂

[panchish]

“his younger colin firth appeal” oh my god something has changed within me

[ejbell]

As an Australian, that was pretty damn funny! "Flyin' of the farking handle" broke me 🤣😂😅😆

[stanford]

He’s one of the best actors in Bridgerton, and like you mentioned, a very capable singer, so I’m excited

[Mungoteazer]

To be honest I was thinking the whole time that for me personally a good Fiyero could really change my excitement for this movie and I was also imagining Johnathan as Fiyero. So I am very very happy about him being cast!

[CoynieReads]

I’ve personally never had an issue with West End Wicked having British accents because of the vocal difference it sets between the citizens of Oz and the Wizard who canonically is from Kansas and so is always performed with an American accent, so I’d be fine with the movie doing either option tbh! ☺️

[arcadia]

Loved your analysis. A very gifted actor indeed. Of course Jonathan can dance. He's received training in ballet as a kid... Also he's super athletic. In his earlier works 'Campus' he does several acrobatic stunts including the toe touch jump. And I've heard he did a stunt in 'Company' too, in the middle of that super fast song.

[LianaM]

As a huge Jonny and musical fan, I am so happy about this news. He is super talented, and I bet he's going to be brilliant. P.S. Your Aussie accent was pretty good. (coming from an Aussie). 🙂

[ricohofmann]

I think a Song for Fiyero before He dies / becoming the Scarecrow about His Feelings for Elphie and Glinda would be great, maybe a Ballad.

[anne_bckmnn]

Honestly I did not think of Jonny Bailey to play Fiyero but the more I think about it the more I like it? Could be really exciting!

[overlydramaticpanda]

I've kind of always thought that Fiyero could potentially do with his own song after 'Thank Goodness' before we check back in with Elphaba. For as much as I love Wicked, Fiyero is *really* short-changed as a male lead; he's basically there to just act cool, dither about a bit and then get turned into the Scarecrow so the show doesn't have to end on a complete downer. It's kind of the one thing I'm hoping the movie(s) can actually improve on. Like, during 'Thank Goodness' it's obvious that he's not happy with Glinda and the whole "Elphie = Wicked Witch" development but the shift from unhappy but sort of willing to tolerate it to outright running away with Elphaba with very little prompting when he next shows up has always struck me as just seeming a little disjointed and out of nowhere. Having his own song (and I'm completely down for it being a gender-flipped reprise of 'I'm Not That Girl') in between those two events would go a long way to really demonstrating the extent of his internal conflict at that point in time and showing that his decision to be with Elphaba isn't just a spur of the moment thing which is how it occasionally comes across in the stage show but is something that's actually potentially been on the cards with him for a while.

As to the casting itself, I'm fairly sure Jonathan Bailey will absolutely kill it. He was phenomenal in Company and is a terrific actor. And if we're being honest, Fiyero *really* isn't a demanding role from either a vocal or an acting standpoint - it's all very straightforward to the point where I'm sure a lot of guys could do it in their sleep. To be honest, I'm just excited that we've got three for three in terms of casting the lead roles with people with actual musical theatre experience...

[tamarakate]

As an Australian I COMLETELY APPROVE of your accent attempts and want them in a comedy version of this movie hahahahaha

[nicolematthews]

China Anne McClain for Nessa would be a fabulous choice in my opinion. Excited to see you explore the rest of these announcements! 💚

[Locke]

Jonathan will now be the second prominent Jamie Wellerstein to play Fiyero ever. I think he would do well as he’s got some good Last Five Year clips floating around and I really liked him in Company.

[gabrielleduplessis]

I can picture Fiyero singing a sing with a montage of events. Shortly after he arrives and gets to know Elphaba and Dr. Dillamond, he begins singing his own song while saving the lion and than you watch a series of events making him question his purpose and who he wants to be. Part of the song could be about not loving Glinda anymore which is also not falling in love with his vain and selfish side anymore. Than Elphaba is where his mature and evolving side belongs to.