A romantic moment between Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) almost made it into "Wicked: For Good," and it would have changed how the audience saw their entire relationship. The scene was filmed, and by all accounts was soft, sweet, and full of heat. It also created a new tension that the story could not hold.
Co-writer Dana Fox said the kiss was lovely on its own, yet it carried a weight the film did not want. It pushed Glinda and Fiyero into a space that felt too honest, too intense, and too final.
In the story, Glinda and Fiyero are engaged in public. It looks perfect, but the truth is far more tangled. Fiyero’s heart leans toward Elphaba, even if he tries to stand beside Glinda. A passionate kiss with Glinda would have changed the balance of the triangle. It would have made Fiyero look torn for the wrong reason, and Glinda look hurt in a deeper way.
Fox said the moment felt so real that it risked cracking the entire emotional setup.
Why the Scene Had to Go?
Wicked / IG / The kiss itself was simple. Prince Fiyero, played by Jonathan Bailey, shared a moment with Glinda, played by Ariana Grande. It was quiet, warm, and charged, and that was the exact problem.
On screen, chemistry speaks loudly. The scene suggested that Fiyero might be truly in love with Glinda. That would shift the way viewers read the rest of his choices. Fox said she worried that the audience would get angry, confused, or even disconnected from every character involved.
The creative team did not want viewers walking away shocked by Fiyero’s eventual shift toward Elphaba. If the kiss stayed, it would have felt like he dropped Glinda after promising her something real. Fox joked that viewers’ minds might crack from the emotional whiplash. Instead of rooting for the messy magic of the story, they might resent the characters and feel betrayed.
This Fits the Bigger Plan Behind the Movie
This cut was not a random choice. It matched the careful approach the filmmakers have taken since the start. "Wicked: For Good" is part of a two-film plan shaped around the scale of the original stage musical. Director Jon M. Chu said a single movie would have forced painful cuts. Too many scenes, characters, and songs matter to the story. Trying to squeeze them together would have weakened everything.
Composer Stephen Schwartz agreed, saying "Defying Gravity" feels like a natural act break, which makes the two-film structure feel right.
The decision to remove the kiss scene fits that same idea. It keeps the focus tight, the emotions stable, and the character arcs clean. Instead of letting one moment overshadow the love triangle, the team trimmed the scene to protect the long game. The audience gets a story that moves with intent.
Could Fans Ever See the Deleted Scene?
Wicked / IG / Dana Fox did hint that some deleted scenes may show up on future home releases. She did not promise anything, but she sounded hopeful.
Fans who enjoy seeing the things that almost made it to the screen may get their wish. A home release would be the safest place for a scene that was loved by the cast and crew, yet too disruptive to stay in the film.
Fox also touched lightly on the future of the franchise. There are no plans for a third movie right now. She still said she would be happy to return if one ever happened. Fox thought the line felt like a spark that could start something bold in a new story. It plants a question that fans have asked for years, and it leaves the door cracked for what could come next.
