Wicked: For Good’s BTS Doc Revealed Another A+ Ad Lib By Bowen Yang’s Pfannee (And I Wish They Kept Them All)

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Several musicals have won Best Picture at the Oscars, and Wicked: For Good could be next, depending on how it’s received during awards season. Director Jon M. Chu successfully brought the popular stage show to the big screen, and Wicked was a huge success in theaters. You’ll be able to watch it at home starting December 30th, along with a documentary showing how the movie was made. I got a sneak peek at the documentary at a special event, and it included a hilarious, unreleased ad-lib by Bowen Yang. I really wish that and all his funny lines had made it into the final cut!

I recently attended a special event in New York City celebrating the home entertainment release of Wicked: For Good. We got to see original costumes from the movie, including Elphaba’s iconic cardigan! Attendees also previewed a documentary that will be included with the digital release on December 30th, featuring another funny line from Yang’s character, Pfannee. During a rehearsal of the opening number, “Every Day More Wicked,” right after the “Dearest Glinda” section, Yang playfully said to the dancers:

You all shouldn’t be so scared. That is a general note for all of you.

I was completely surprised when I heard that line! I’m a big fan of Yang’s work in the Wicked films, especially the funny improvisations he added to the musical numbers. He really made a small role his own with his comedic talent – something fans will remember from his time on Saturday Night Live (available to stream with a Peacock subscription). I’d love to see a compilation of all the jokes and lines that didn’t make the final cut of the two Wicked movies.

Yang was a comedic highlight in the first Wicked film, delivering many funny lines that he often made up on the spot, drawing on his experience with sketch comedy. Memorable moments included his reaction to Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) and his comment about “not seeing color” after meeting Elphaba. A particularly hilarious improvised scene—where he says “I’ve been… through” while talking to Glinda (Ariana Grande)—didn’t make the final cut of the movie, but it went viral online and you can watch it below.

Jon M. Chu shared that he had to reduce Yang’s part in For Good, but Yang still had a significant presence alongside Bronwyn James’s character. A clip from the movie’s behind-the-scenes footage shows just how much funny energy Yang brought to the set during filming. Fans are now asking for more outtakes and ad-libs to be released!

Fans can enjoy bonus scenes featuring Bowen Yang’s funny performance when the digital version of Wicked: For Good becomes available on December 30th. We’ll have to wait and see if any additional clips are shared.

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2025-12-26 19:10