Wicked star Marissa Bode has explained why a musical change in the upcoming sequel will be “less harmful” to disabled people.
The actor, who plays Nessarose Thropp in the musical fantasy films, spoke with The Hollywood Reporter after accepting the Spotlight Award at ReelAbilities, a US film festival that showcases projects involving people with disabilities.
In the interview, Bode spoke about the upcoming Wicked: For Good, sharing that the film would “change” aspects of a storyline from the Broadway musical, which sees Nessarose being able to move without the use of her wheelchair after coming under an enchantment.
“They made some changes,” said the actor. “I cannot say what those are just yet, but they did make those changes so that the magic within Wicked is still there, but the narrative is less harmful to disabled people.
“I think a lot of non-disabled people already have the preconceived idea that all disabled people want to be fixed. Portraying something like that in something as big as Wicked can have negative effects.
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“The amount of times that I am pitied because people think I am lesser than for sitting in a wheelchair or that I am not living a happy life because I am in a wheelchair - that I should be fixed or that I need to be prayed over - has been extremely uncomfortable.”
Bode added that the changes were made without her involvement by the screenwriting team of Winnie Hoffman and Dana Fox, with the actor noting that she was “grateful” for not “having to think about” any alterations given her focus on her performance.
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“I do understand that Wicked has been on Broadway for a long time, but when you take something that has such a fan base like that and everyone in it has an idea in their brain of what it is already, changing that can be scary,” added Bode.
“So I am a little bit nervous [about] the reaction, but at the end of the day I am for my community. I don’t speak for all disabled people, but I do think the changes that have been made are healthy overall.”
Wicked: For Good is scheduled to be released in cinemas on November 21.
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
