The highly anticipated film adaptation of Wicked has finally revealed who plays Dorothy Gale: British actress Bethany Weaver. Yet, the decision to keep her face obscured and alter a key element of her appearance – the ruby slippers – has sparked curiosity. The changes aren’t arbitrary; they stem from a deliberate artistic choice and complex copyright considerations.
Keeping Dorothy Anonymous
Director Jon M. Chu intentionally avoids showing Dorothy’s face directly. This mirrors the original Broadway musical, where Dorothy doesn’t appear on stage, maintaining her as an off-stage legend.
“I want everyone’s Dorothy to be their Dorothy,” Chu explained. “I don’t want to step on that.”
The intent is to preserve the iconic character’s universality. By keeping her face hidden, the film avoids imposing a single interpretation, allowing audiences to project their own vision of Dorothy onto the role. This also keeps the focus firmly on the central narrative of Elphaba and Glinda.
The Shift from Ruby to Silver
The most striking visual change is Dorothy’s footwear. Instead of the famous ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film, Weaver’s Dorothy sports silver shoes. This isn’t just an aesthetic preference. The original L. Frank Baum novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), described the slippers as silver. The ruby red color was introduced in the film adaptation to take advantage of the then-new Technicolor technology.
Costume designer Paul Tazewell opted to return to Baum’s original depiction for authenticity. However, a less discussed reason is legal: the 1939 Wizard of Oz film remains under copyright. By reverting to the book’s silver slippers, the filmmakers avoid infringing on the film’s exclusive visual details.
Why This Matters
These choices highlight the delicate balance between honoring source material, respecting audience expectations, and navigating intellectual property rights. The obscured face of Dorothy maintains the mythic quality of the character, while the silver slippers acknowledge the book’s origins while skirting legal issues. Wicked’s adaptations demonstrate that even seemingly minor details can be loaded with artistic and practical significance.
The film’s approach suggests a careful consideration of how iconic characters are presented, ensuring that the story remains true to its roots while also protecting against legal challenges.
