Off to See the Wizard: Colman Domingo Completes Wicked’s Dream Cast as the Cowardly Lion
In a revelation that sent the fashion and film spheres into absolute euphoria this Monday, the incomparable Colman Domingo has been announced as the Cowardly Lion in the eagerly anticipated Wicked: For Good. The casting news, delivered via the film’s official Instagram with all the theatrical flair one expects from an Oz production, featured our newly minted Lion surrounded by an adorable menagerie of plush companions before uttering those three magical words: “See you in Oz.”
The weekend prior had been nothing short of electric, with internet sleuths and devoted musical theatre aficionados engaging in delicious speculation about who would embody the beloved character. Director Jon M. Chu, maestro of this cinematic spectacle, had tantalizingly teased Thursday that a major Hollywood luminary would voice the coveted part, setting social media ablaze with predictions and wishful thinking.
Domingo’s addition to this already dazzling constellation of talent—which boasts Ariana Grande’s ethereal Glinda and Cynthia Erivo’s spellbinding Elphaba—feels nothing short of destiny. The ensemble reads like a who’s who of contemporary brilliance: Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, the legendary Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum round out this dream cast.
What makes this casting particularly enchanting is the delightfully modern way it materialized. Chu revealed to Deadline that he slid into Domingo’s Instagram DMs—proof that even Hollywood’s most prestigious projects embrace our digital age’s connectivity. “It’s not a ton of lines, but maybe you have a little time,” the director propositioned, acknowledging Domingo’s notoriously packed schedule. The Tony-nominated powerhouse’s response? An emphatic “Why the f— not. Let’s go.” Iconic, truly.
Domingo arrives at Oz’s emerald gates with credentials that sparkle: two Academy Award nominations, a Primetime Emmy Award adorning his mantle, and recognition by Time Magazine as one of 2024’s 100 most influential people globally. This isn’t merely casting—it’s a cultural moment.
Wicked: For Good promises to transport us beyond November 2024’s phenomenon, which became the UK’s highest-grossing film of the year and garnered ten Oscar nominations, claiming victories for costume and production design. The sequel continues Elphaba and Glinda’s journey following their heart-wrenching separation, with our misunderstood green heroine now vilified as Oz’s public enemy while Glinda navigates life as the Wizard’s carefully managed puppet.
The recently unveiled trailer tantalizes with glimpses of Dorothy traversing that iconic yellow brick road, suggesting an expanded role that diverges from the stage production. Shot simultaneously at Sky Studios Elstree between December 2022 and January 2024—with a dramatic intermission courtesy of the Hollywood actors’ strike—these films represent cinematic ambition at its finest.
