CinemaCon has announced Peter Dinklage will be the voice behind Dr. Dillamond in the upcoming big-screen adaptation of Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu.
The character holds an important role, being the first to alert Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) to the looming dark forces threatening the speaking animals of Oz, including himself.
Dr. Dillamond is also known for his performance of the song, “Something Bad,” in which he begins losing the ability to speak, turning the lyrics into bleats.
Dinklage, known for his acclaimed performances on both stage and screen, is a surprising choice for a musical role.
However, audiences may recall his previous musical venture as the lead in a production of Cyrano de Bergerac titled simply Cyrano.
Following the announcement on Wednesday, online forums were abuzz regarding Dr. Dillamond’s casting, with fans concerned about his absence from initial casting notices and teaser trailers.
Some fans even speculated that the character may have been removed from the film entirely. However, Universal’s announcement has put these rumors to rest.
Based on the immensely popular musical of the same name, Wicked serves as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, exploring the backstory of Elphaba, who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda (Ariana Grande), originally named Galinda.
Wicked will be divided into two parts, with the first installment set to hit theaters on November 27th. Part Two is scheduled for release on November 26th, 2025.
