Is Elphaba’s Father the Wizard in ‘Wicked,’ and What’s the Reason Behind Elphaba’s Green Skin?

In case you hadn’t seen the hundreds of ads, the Wicked movie is now streaming on Peacock.

Jon M. Chu directed the film adaptation of Stephen Schwartz’s award-winning musical from 2003, making it one of the most significant movies of 2024 in terms of both financial success and influence on society and culture. Cynthia Erivo plays the role of Elphaba, also known as the Wicked Witch of the West from the classic story of The Wizard of Oz, depicted here before embracing her wickedness. Ariana Grande portrays Glinda the Good Witch, or Galinda, a crucial character in Elphaba’s journey towards becoming a villain as their friendship takes a tragic turn.

Despite the alteration in the movie’s title from Wicked: Part 1 to simply Wicked, this film only covers the events depicted in Act 1 of the original Broadway musical. The sequel, Wicked: For Good, is scheduled to hit theaters in November 2025. Fans who are familiar with the musical will not be surprised by the upcoming revelations, such as the shocking truth about Elphaba’s biological father.

If you don’t want to wait for Part 2, read on to learn about Elphaba’s father and why Elphaba’s skin is green.

Warning: Major Wicked: For Good spoilers ahead!

Spoiler alert: Yes, the wizard is Elphaba’s biological, illegitimate father in the Wicked musical.

In the musical number “No One Mourns the Wicked,” Elphaba’s mother, Melena Thropp (played by Courtney-Mae Briggs), engages in an extramarital affair with a mysterious traveler, betraying her husband, Governor Thropp (Andy Nyman). Although the mysterious man’s face remains unseen in the Wicked movie, attentive viewers can recognize the voice as belonging to the Wizard of Oz, played by Jeff Goldblum. Indeed, it is Goldblum’s voice that can be heard in the track, adding an intriguing layer to the narrative.

In Act 2 of the stage musical (and, presumably, in Part 2 of the movie) it’s revealed that the Wizard did not know that his one-night stand with Melena resulted in a baby. He only learns that Elphaba was his daughter at the end of the show, after she dies. After he learns this, he mourns her, and agrees to leave Oz. Elphaba, likewise, never learns the identity of her true father. It’s extra heart-breaking, because the Wizard sings about wanting to be a father in “A Sentimental Man.” The fact that Elphaba is the child of both a human from earth (the wizard) and a being from Oz (Melena) is said to be the reason that her powers are so strong.

That said, in the Wicked book, which the musical was adapted from, Elphaba does learn that the Wizard is her father, from The Clock of the Time Dragon. If we had to guess, we assume Part 2 of the movie will follow in the steps of the musical, and have Elphaba die before she learns the truth.

Elphaba is green in Wicked because her biological parents drink a “green elixir” while pregnant with her. In fact, they state this quite clearly in the first song after the overture, “No One Mourns the Wicked.” Open your ears, people!

Elphaba’s father sings to Elphaba’s mother in the song, “Have another drink of green elixir, and we’ll have ourselves a little mixer.”

While it’s not clear, what, exactly, the green elixir is, it’s clear that Mrs. Thropp is partying it up with her lover, and probably getting drunk. Some fans say it’s meant to be absinthe. I’ve always imagined it’s some sort of magical, bright green, citrus-flavored, alcoholic liqueur, similar to Blue Curaçao. (Fun fact, in the Broadway stage show, they use green mouthwash for the elixir.)

You know how when you have a brightly colored alcohol beverage, drink too much, and vomit that color? It’s like that.