Colman Domingo is joining the land of Oz. The Oscar-nominated actor has been confirmed as the voice of the Cowardly Lion in the upcoming sequel “Wicked: For Good”, the second half of director Jon M. Chu’s ambitious two-part adaptation of the hit Broadway musical.
The casting was revealed in a light-hearted video on Wicked’s official Instagram page on Monday, showing Domingo peeking out from behind a stuffed lion before grinning to the camera and saying, “See you in Oz!”
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♬ original sound - Wicked: For Good
Director Jon M. Chu, who helms both Wicked films, had teased the reveal days earlier, hinting that fans would be thrilled once they learned who had landed the part. “Man, wait until the red carpet when the actor who gave us the Cowardly Lion’s voice steps foot on it. It’ll be wild,” he wrote.
The Cowardly Lion, a fan-favourite from the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz,” first appeared in the Wicked storyline as a frightened cub rescued by Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). After witnessing the cub’s mistreatment in a classroom experiment, Elphaba’s anger triggers her magic, setting him free — an act that will later define his complicated feelings toward her.
In Wicked: For Good, the lion returns as a fully grown version of that same cub, crossing paths with Dorothy, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow as they follow the Yellow Brick Road to meet the Wizard, played by Jeff Goldblum. The character appears briefly during the rousing number “March of the Witchhunters,” echoing the smaller but symbolic role he plays in the stage show.
The film also sees the return of Ariana Grande as Glinda Upland, alongside Erivo, Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, and Bronwyn James. The sequel picks up as Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship splinters, testing their loyalties and setting the stage for the rise of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.
Irish fans, many of whom have followed the first film’s production closely, are eagerly awaiting the sequel — with Wicked: For Good promising even more magic, music and emotion than its predecessor.
Universal is set to release “Wicked: For Good” in cinemas on November 21, just in time for the festive season.
