Colman Domingo roars into Oz as the Cowardly Lion in Wicked: For Good, joining Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in the star-studded sequel to the hit musical adaptation.
Colman Domingo has officially been cast as the Cowardly Lion in Wicked: For Good, the highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster musical film Wicked. The announcement, made on the film’s official Instagram account, puts an end to a weekend of fan speculation about who would take on the iconic role.
The reveal came via a playful video showing Domingo surrounded by lion-shaped plush toys, ending with the actor smiling into the camera and declaring, “See you in Oz.”
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Director Jon M. Chu, who also helmed the first Wicked film, teased the casting days earlier, hinting that a major Hollywood star would be joining the ensemble. Chu later told Deadline that he approached Domingo personally on Instagram about the role, recalling their lighthearted exchange: “I was like, ‘It’s not a ton of lines, but maybe you have a little time. I know you’re busy. I’ll come to you.’” According to Chu, Domingo’s enthusiastic reply was, “Why the f— not. Let’s go.”
Domingo joins an already glittering cast that includes Ariana Grande as Glinda, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, along with Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, and Michelle Yeoh rounding out the ensemble.
A two-time Academy Award nominee and Primetime Emmy winner, Domingo’s star power continues to soar. The celebrated actor and playwright, who was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2024, also boasts a rich background in theater, making his casting in the Wicked universe a fitting full-circle moment.
The sequel, Wicked: For Good, picks up after the events of the 2024 hit Wicked—the year’s highest-grossing film in the UK and a 10-time Oscar nominee, winning for Best Costume Design and Production Design. The story will follow the aftermath of Elphaba and Glinda’s emotional parting, with Elphaba now branded an enemy of Oz while Glinda becomes a public figure under the Wizard’s control.
The new trailer also teases the introduction of Dorothy, glimpsed walking down the yellow brick road with her friends, hinting at a more prominent role for the classic character this time around.
Both Wicked films were shot simultaneously at Sky Studios Elstree in the UK between December 2022 and January 2024, with production briefly paused due to the Hollywood actors’ strike.
Wicked: For Good is set to hit theaters November 21, 2025—almost exactly one year after the first film’s release.
