When Wicked fell last winter, talks on the film's performances focused on the presence of Cynthia Erivo's screen as a fine -tuned Taking of Elfaba and Ariana Grande of Glinda. The two deserved to be in the spotlight, but now that the "wicked" fever has ever cooled down so little (and Grande and Erivo are nominated for Oscars), it's just fair to obsess just over some of the many other great casting decisions. Among the best? The actor who conquered Olivier, Athonatan Bailey as a popular, initially shallow subject to the inclinations of the two witches, Fijero.

Fijero's role has long been crucial in the productions of the "wicked", with all from Tay Diggs to Aaron Twait to Adam Lambert to burst out of one time or another (Tony Norbert Leo Buz's winner dates back in 2003). Bailey, who has tons of stage experience and several TV roles that create starwides below the belt, brings many talents and charisma in the role. But according to Casting Director Bernard Telsi, who He talked about the variety To compile the Ensemble for M.on M. Hu, the problem of scheduling has almost led to a different actor Fijero in full.

Telsi told Variety that he initially met Bailey when he starred in queer, gender exchange of "company" at London West End, the role the actor took in 2018. Sondheim Classic, but he was not available to join Wicked when the casting process began. With their first choice reserved and busy, the casting team ended for months with auditions, but they could never find Fiero as perfect for the Bailey part. According to CapitalFMSeveral actors came out on the record, admitting that they had been transferred to the section, including actor Nick and Oeo Ononas, a musician and "I know what you did last summer" Spencer Sutherland, and actor and singer Ryan McKaran, who once played Broadway.

Then Kovid-19 pandemic struck and showed that Bailey was committed to the fact that their schedules were pushed back. In the crazy dash to reschedule productions such as the pandemic facilitate, other Bailey projects moved to dates that did not overlap with the "wicked" shooting. Although Telsi does not mention that Bailey had to work around, he had a few fantastic leading parts in recent years, playing romantic hero Anthony Bridzorton in the second season of the season of Uber-Popular-Riper-Riper of Netflix "Breadon", And earning raven reviews opposite Matt Bomer in a sexy, heart historical drama "College Passengers". He also titles the revival of the West End at Mike Bartlett's play "C **" and should play the title of character in Shakespeare's London Production "Richard II".

Bailey wasn't official announced as Fijero until 2022And Telsi says "maybe he was one of the last directors (thrown)". However, the casting director considered the whole thing as the main one. "It all worked," he concluded. Bailey is, he says, "so charming, (so) talented, and he is so Fiero."

"E wicked" is now available for rent or own digital And on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K UHD. Bailey will return as Fijero in "Eldft: For Good", which is due to go out in theaters on November 21, 2025.