Who Does Dorothy Kill in Wicked: Elphaba or Glinda?

Wicked is rolling on with the next chapter, now titled 'Wicked: For Good' — the Oz prequel saga that flips the yellow-brick legend on its head. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are back, Jonathan Bailey is back, and, according to reporting making the rounds (via ScreenRant), Bethany Weaver is stepping in as Dorothy. And yes, the big question on everyone’s mind is the messy one: who does Dorothy actually take out this time?

So... does Dorothy kill Elphaba or Glinda?

Because this is a reimagining, the movie theoretically has wiggle room: Dorothy could collide with either witch. But the safest bet still points to Elphaba. In L. Frank Baum’s world and the classic film, Dorothy tosses water and the Wicked Witch melts. Wicked’s twist, though — as staged on Broadway — is that Elphaba’s death is a con. She and Glinda stage it, she survives, and the world buys the lie.

Translation: Dorothy may believe she kills Elphaba in 'For Good', but Elphaba likely isn’t actually gone.

Dorothy is barely in the frame

Despite being the main character in 'The Wizard of Oz', Dorothy isn’t the focus here. The movie centers on Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and the complicated bond between them. Cynthia Erivo told Empire that Dorothy is present, but you won’t really see her clearly — think shots from behind or at a distance.

'I think that is such a wonderful thing to do, because then everyone gets to keep the Dorothy that they know.'

It’s a smart, very intentional choice. The creative team is protecting the iconography instead of recasting it in your face, which brings us to...

Why keep Dorothy in the background?

Judy Garland’s 1939 Dorothy is one of those once-in-a-century performances — the kind you don’t try to one-up. Keeping Dorothy obscured is a respectful nod to that legacy and a way to let audiences hold onto their personal version of the character. It also keeps the spotlight where Wicked has always wanted it: on the two witches and how their story reframes Oz.

Who’s in, what’s new, when’s it out

• Cast: Ariana Grande (Glinda), Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba), Jonathan Bailey — and, reportedly, Bethany Weaver as Dorothy.
• Angle: A continuation of the Wicked film franchise, which reframes Oz as a prequel told from the witches’ side.
• Dorothy’s role: Present but mostly seen from afar; not the point-of-view character.
• The big plot swing: Expect the classic water-meets-witch moment, with the Broadway twist that Elphaba’s 'death' may be staged.
• Release: 'Wicked: For Good' hits U.S. theaters on November 21, 2025.

It’s a bold set of choices: hide Dorothy’s face, respect Garland, and lean all the way into the Glinda/Elphaba dynamic. If the movie sticks the landing, that restraint could make the inevitable Oz crossover land even harder.