Wicked spoilers follow.
Wicked fans have shared their outrage after an emotional scene ended up on the cutting room floor.
Following the musical fantasy hit's recent digital release in the US, several deleted moments have emerged online, including one particularly notable exchange between Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo).
In the heartfelt scene, Glinda is seen struggling with magic, Elphaba telling her: "Maybe it's harder for you to make magic because things have been kind of easy for you – so you don't need it."
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Glinda then brings up Elphaba and Fiyero's (Jonathan Bailey) recent escape with the caged lion cub after their classmates are sent to sleep, the future Good Witch questioning why she didn't choose her to aid in their good deed.
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"I would've helped you, if you needed someone," Glinda says. "You could've picked me."
Moved by her words, Elphaba tells her friend: "I'm sorry, it was a mistake. I won't leave you behind again."
Fans have now taken to Reddit to question why the moment was edited out, one writing: "Oh come on, this is so sweet. I absolutely love this movie but just realized how much it was missing a scene like this!!!!"
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"This scene explains the reasoning why Elphaba decided to invite Glinda to go to Emerald City with her. 'I promise to not leave you again' plus it shows Glinda studying magic for once," another noted.
"This scene says so much though and the movie would have been even better with it in. It shows more contrast and similarity between the two. It wouldn’t have affected running time that much," a third added.
"Whyyyy was this removed? Will this become my new Roman Empire?" a fourth joked, while a fifth wrote: "Why did they take this out…."
Other notable deleted scenes include Glinda trying to teach her roommate Toss Toss, a moment between Elphaba and Fiyero in the forest with the cub, as well as Elphaba confronting Boq (Ethan Slater) about his true feelings for her sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode).
Wicked is out now in cinemas, and is also available to buy or rent from Prime Video, iTunes and more in the US.
Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
