‘One Of The Most Enlightening And Beautiful Processes:’ Wicked’s Director Opens Up About Bringing Accessibility To The Big Screen For Nessarose

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'One Of The Most Enlightening And Beautiful Processes:' Wicked's Director Opens Up About Bringing Accessibility To The Big Screen For Nessarose

As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in fantastical worlds, I can hardly contain my excitement for the upcoming big-screen adaptation of Wicked. The talented cast, led by the remarkable Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, is already a winning formula, but what truly sets this production apart is the inclusion and representation it offers.

The upcoming big-screen adaptation of the Tony-winning musical “Wicked” boasts a remarkably gifted ensemble, marking their debut on the silver screen. Besides Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, and others bringing the enchanting characters to life, Marissa Bode is also part of the cast as Nessarose, Elphaba’s sister. Notably, director Jon M. Chu has highlighted his plans for making the set of his 2024 film release wheelchair-friendly to accommodate actress Marissa Bode in her role as Nessarose, given that she is a wheelchair user in real life.

As reported by WMTV 15 News, Marissa Bode, who suffered paralysis from the waist down in a car accident at age 11, has persisted in her acting career. Performing on her high school stage was particularly difficult for her due to the lack of ramps and the need to wait to be lifted onto the stage. In her upcoming role as the paraplegic witch Nessarose in the musical Wicked, director Jon M. Chu told Entertainment Weekly that he fashioned a wheelchair-friendly world for the production, sharing insights into this creative process.

One of the most enlightening and beautiful processes I’ve ever gone through. You need accessibility, not just when we’re on set behind the scenes, but you need to present accessibility in Oz itself.

It’s quite logical, given Nessarose is an inhabitant of Oz, that the set would be designed with wheelchair accessibility in mind. It’s heartening to note that director Jon M. Chu took Marissa Bode’s needs into consideration while creating the Land of Oz.

Right from the start, the creators of “Wicked” intentionally sought and cast real-life wheelchair users within the 18-30 age range, regardless of ethnicity, for the role of Nessarose. This decision was wise given recent research indicating that portrayals of disabilities in films are often lacking. Notably, Hulu’s thriller “Run” saw success by casting wheelchair-bound actress Kiera Allen, demonstrating that more progress can always be made. It seems that “Wicked” is leading the way in this regard, as it appears they are committing to casting an actress who shares the same physical challenges as her character Nessa – a significant step forward for representation on Broadway, where this is not typically the case.

Marissa Bode’s journey of securing the part of Nessarose was like a long-awaited fairytale coming true for her. As reported by Variety, this ambitious performer felt uncertain after she didn’t hear back following her self-tape and subsequent callbacks. However, two days later, during a Zoom call with Jon M. Chu, an unexpected event unfolded: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo unexpectedly appeared in the director’s office, holding up a sign to the camera that read, “Welcome to Oz! Will you be our Nessa?” The fortunate actress went on to make history as the first wheelchair actress to portray this role.

In a sneak peek, it’s clear that actress Marissa Bode was thoroughly enjoying herself as Jon M. Chu transformed Oz into a wheelchair-friendly environment for her. The teaser captured Bode seemingly defying gravity while in her wheelchair, flying high above the ground. Bode, who played Glinda in the musical Wicked, expressed to Variety that she hopes her future roles will feature characters whose disabilities don’t overshadow their identities and encourages others to advocate for accessibility and combat ableism. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for Wicked: Part One, set to hit theaters on November 22nd.

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2024-09-23 23:37