In ‘Wicked’, Jeff Goldblum plays the Wizard alongside Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
Jeff Goldblum isn’t held back regarding his Wicked persona, the Wizard of Oz.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the 71-year-old actor didn’t mince words in a recent interview, calling the manipulative leader a “self-glorifying nincompoop” who abuses his power and authority.
Goldblum also compared the Wizard to his Grandmaster character in Thor: Ragnarok, portraying both as power-hungry creatures deluded by their egos.
In Wicked, the Wizard is far from the bumbling humbug of previous Wizard of Oz films. Goldblum portrays a manipulative despot who uses others’ magic to create a dystopian regime. The Wizard, alongside Madam Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), vilifies Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), wrongly accusing her of being the Wicked Witch of the West.
Goldblum observes that the interaction of the Wizard’s dictatorial grip and Elphaba’s true magic conveys a universal lesson about leadership. “Real power,” he explains, “has to do with connection, the ability to make beautiful things, and impacting others positively.”
Goldblum also discussed the larger issues of Wicked. “Around the world, leadership doesn’t always take the most enlightened path,” he said, implying the story’s timeless relevance.
Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu, is a film adaptation of the renowned Broadway musical from 2003. The film stars Erivo, Ariana Grande as Glinda, Jonathan Bailey, and Bowen Yang, and its first chapter is currently in theaters.