Wicked: For Good has revealed the actor behind one of its most iconic roles. After the role was teased by director Jon M. Chu, speculation was rampant about who would play the Cowardly Lion. Now, the film’s social media accounts have revealed that two-time Oscar nominee Colman Domingo has joined the cast of the upcoming musical sequel in the role made famous by Bert Lahr. The film will be released in theaters on November 4, 2025.
Last week, Chu was coy about the actor playing the role, stating, “Man, wait until the red carpet when the actor who gave us the Cowardly Lion’s voice steps foot on it. It’ll be wild.” However, it was evidently decided not to wait until the film’s premiere, as this morning the film’s official Instagram account posted a video of Domingo with a stuffed lion, promising that he’d “see you in Oz.” It’ll be the second role for Domingo this fall, as he also stars as game show host Bobby Thompson in Edgar Wright‘s new vision of The Running Man.
Who Is the Cowardly Lion?
Created by L. Frank Baum in 1900’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Cowardly Lion is traditionally too full of self-doubt to fulfill his natural role as King of the Jungle. He encounters Dorothy and her other companions on the Yellow Brick Road en route to the Emerald City, and eventually learns that he had courage all along. The character was most famously portrayed by vaudeville comedian Bert Lahr in 1939’s film adaptation of the book, but has been portrayed by a number of luminaries over the years, including Ted Ross in The Wiz, Raoul Trujillo in Tin Man, and Fozzie Bear in The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz. In the first Wicked film, the Lion appears as a caged cub brought to Shiz University by Professor Nikidik, intending to demonstrate how animals will henceforth be prevented from speaking; outraged by the animal’s cruel treatment, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) frees the animal with her crush Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey).
Wicked: For Good will adapt the second half of the acclaimed stage musical, following up from last year’s Wicked, which garnered critical acclaim and a hefty $756.4 million take at the box office. It will show how Elphaba and her friend/rival Galinda (Ariana Grande) take on the roles of the Wicked and Good Witches of Oz, respectively, as seen in The Wizard of Oz.
Wicked: For Good will be released in theaters on November 4, 2025.
via Collider