Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey joins Wicked film and fans are overwhelmed: ‘Perfect casting’
Jonathan Bailey is set to star in Wicked. (Getty)
Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey has been cast as Fiyero in the movie adaptation of Wicked.
Bailey is the final lead to be announced for the Wicked movie, and will star alongside Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba.
The news was first broken by Variety and quickly confirmed by director Jon M. Chu, who tweeted: “He’s perfect, they’re perfect. They’d be perfect together.
“Born to be forever….. I am too excited to pretend this hasn’t been happening. We have a Fiyero!!!!”
Bailey took to his Instagram to share an adorable set of photos with the caption “Dancing through”– likely to be nod to Fiyero’s Wicked song “Dancing Through Life”.
Chu commented under this post “Welcome to Oz 😉 see you soon Prince.” Ariana Grande simply replied with many exclamation marks.
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British acting royalty (and beyond) have flooded Bailey’s comments to voice their support, including on-screen Bridgerton wife Simone Ashley who said simply: “oh YES XXX”.
Others included Bridgerton co-stars Charithra Chandran and Nichola Coughan, Heartstopper stars Sebastian Croft and Joe Locke, Doctor Who actors Sacha Dhawan and Anjil Mohindra and The Sandman’s Mason Alexander Park.
Fans have taken to Twitter to share their joy. One person wrote: “Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero is PERFECT CASTING! Yes! This whole cast is gonna be amazing.”
“Jonathan Bailey in Company is one of the best performances I’ve ever seen. I get chills thinking about it. And whilst I’m not one for gatekeeping usually, you don’t deserve to see Wicked if you don’t understand this man’s talent,” another wrote.
Bailey won an Olivier Award in 2019 for Best Supporting Actor in Company.
One person summed it up perfectly saying: “Imma die, it’s perfect casting I want to cry. My heart skipped a literal beat.”
jonathan bailey being casted as fiyero really sent me over the mooooooon— a is home??? ? (@Calumsteletubby) September 22, 2022
I’ve been thinking about it and I’m so sure that Cynthia Erivo / Jonathan Bailey’s As Long As You’re Mine is going to be my cause of death
— Arrianne Gavaghan (@ArrianneGavagan) September 22, 2022
now that jonathan bailey is playing fiyero i finally find elphaba's descent into madness realistic cause i too would risk it all for a man that beautiful— chopper (@agaunstnazguls) September 22, 2022
Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey being the best work husband and wife? pic.twitter.com/fygdGItpGj— vexation thy name is anthony bridgerton (@spotofsunshine_) September 22, 2022
jonathan bailey in a movie musical. a literal fucking dream. pic.twitter.com/wOMtTrVw0N— nada | jonathan bailey era ✨? (@jonnybaeley) September 21, 2022
Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey singing As Long As You’re Mine is going to heal us all.— Rob Madge (@Rob_Madge_02) September 21, 2022
Jonathan Bailey previously won hearts as Anthony Bridgerton in the hit Netflix show Bridgerton. He most recently appeared in Mike Bartlett’s West End production, C**k.
The Wicked adaptation is set to be split into two films, with the first part scheduled to hit screens on 25 December, 2024, and the second a year later to the day.
