Jonathan Bailey’s Shirtless Scene Cut from ‘Wicked’—But Could It Return in Part Two?”
In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande revealed that Jonathan Bailey filmed a shirtless scene for Wicked, but it was ultimately cut from the movie. When asked why the scene didn’t make it into the final version of the film, the actresses teased fans, hinting that they might get to see it in the future.
“You don’t need it yet,” Erivo said with a smile. “Listen, just wait. Patience. Things come to those who wait.” It seems like they want to keep some surprises in store for the next part of the film series.
Grande, joining in on the teasing, added, “Maybe it will work its way into For Good.” She jokingly suggested, “Maybe during For Good, when we’re singing the most important ballad of our lives, it’ll just be a montage of Jonathan Bailey shirtless.”
Even the film’s director, Jon M. Chu, got in on the fun. He confirmed that there’s always a possibility for a shirtless cameo in the second part of the film, saying, “You never know what’s going to happen in the future, but for right now, it has to stay in the vault.” It seems that fans will have to be patient and wait to see if the scene makes its way into Wicked: Part Two.
In April 2022, director Jon M. Chu revealed that ‘Wicked’ would be split into two parts. He explained that it was impossible to tell the full story in just one movie without damaging it. Cutting songs or characters felt like a major compromise to the original material. By making two films, they could stay true to the story and add more depth and surprises to the characters’ journeys.
Filming for ‘Wicked’ and its sequel started alongside each other and was almost finished by July 2023, but production was paused due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Both films resumed filming on January 24, 2024, and were completed by January 26.
Wicked: For Good is set for release by Universal Pictures in the United States on November 21, 2025.
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