Wicked: Part 2 May Include Fan-Favorite Secret Song "Wicked Witch of the East"
Director Jon M. Chu has hinted that Wicked: Part 2 may include a fan-favorite secret song, "Wicked Witch of the East," from the Broadway musical. The song, which has a passionate fanbase, was omitted from the original Broadway soundtrack due to concerns that it would spoil the story for those who hadn’t seen the stage show.
As a result, the song has only been available on less-than-legal recordings on YouTube, with questionable quality. However, Chu’s statement suggests that fans may finally get an official recording of the song, which is likely to excite fans of the Wicked musical.
The song, which is performed by Nessa, Elphaba’s sister, takes place in Act 2 of the musical and contains major spoilers for the story. The song reveals Elphaba’s father’s death, Nessa’s dictatorial rule, and the origins of Dorothy’s magic slippers.
Notably, the song includes ableist connotations in its first verse, making it seem like Nessarose’s disability needs to be "fixed" for her to be happy. However, Marissa Bode, who plays Nessa in Wicked: Part 2, has stated that the creative team is working to handle disability representation more sensitively. It’s unclear how the scene will be handled in the movie, but disability advocates are urging the creative team to listen to input from disabled people and sensitivity experts.
Wicked: Part 2 is expected to include many exciting moments from the Broadway musical, and the inclusion of "Wicked Witch of the East" would be a major treat for fans of the franchise.
