Lin-Manuel Miranda finally reveals why he was not cast in Wicked

Hamilton star Lin-Manuel Miranda has finally revealed why he wasn't cast in Jon M. Chu's blockbuster movie adaptation of Wicked.

Miranda, a household name in the musical theater, has previously worked with Jon M. Chu on In The Heights, led by Melissa Barrera (Scream VI) and Anthony Ramos (Twisters). The Crazy Rich Asians director followed this collaboration with Cynthia Erivo-led Wicked, which has earned 10 Oscar nods. However, it did not include Lin-Manuel Miranda, his previous collaborator, which led to some online chatter.

Miranda finally addressed this topic during his appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He mentioned that this topic has "gotten blown away out of proportion." Then, he continued, saying:

“In the opening number of the show, this one munchkin runs out and goes, ‘Is it true you were her friend?’ Because, man, I don’t know if you’ve seen a live production of Wicked, but sometimes they really put some sauce on the ball when they deliver that line.”

Miranda jokingly acknowledges that he would have loved to play this role, which appears when the musical begins. The star reportedly told director Jon M. Chu that:

"I really wanted to do that line, Jon."

However, Miranda was not cast in the film. Instead, the role went to Kirsty Anne Shaw. Miranda noted that:

“The young woman who does it in the movie [Kirsty Anne Shaw] is great. She does it very earnestly."

Miranda understands why he did not receive this role, as he noted that it "would’ve been distracting.”

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Lin-Manuel Miranda speaks about Jon M. Chu's Wicked

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Jon M. Chu's Wicked movie adaptation became one of the most successful 2024 Hollywood projects. However, it did not include Lin-Manuel Miranda, a seasoned musical theater artist. So, his fans might have wondered why he wasn't in the film. He finally decided to clear the air on this topic during his appearance on his appearance on Stephen Colbert's late-night show.

Lin-Manuel Miranda agreed that he wanted to play an excited munchkin who appears at the beginning of the musical. However, Jon M. Chu didn't cast him as it would have been distracting. It doesn't seem odd considering the film's main focus on Elphaba and Gilnda's dynamic. Regardless, Miranda admires the performance of the young actress who plays the munchkin in the film. He also notes that:

"I would have done very Regina George, Mean Girls like, ‘Is it true you were her friend?’ Didn’t make the cut.”

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jon M Chu's previous collaboration - In The Heights, was a cinematic adaptation of Miranda's same-name stage musical. This vibrant musical centered around a tight-knit Hispanic community in Manhattan's Washington Heights and received critical acclaim as it currently holds a 94% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

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Jon M. Chu's Wicked has been nominated for ten Academy Awards, and the sequel - Wicked: For Good, is set for a November 21, 2025 release.