Bowen Yang had quite the emotional ride during his last day on the set of Wicked.
The actor sat down with People to promote the second season of his podcast, Hot White Heist. During the conversation, he opened up about the day he wrapped production on the film adaptation of the famous musical, in which he portrays Pfannee, one of Glinda’s (Ariana Grande) friends.
“Everyone was on this really crazy journey to make these movies, and everyone had different journeys, but I feel like mine was pretty intimately with every other student at Shiz [University], and that included most of the cast,” he told the publication. “My wrap day was really emotional. I got to see Michelle Yeoh, and that was really special.”
He explained that there was a moment right before they finished filming when he looked around and was overcome with a sense of excitement and honor to be a part of a project that means so much to him.
“I was like, ‘I can’t believe I’m, one, in Oz. Two, standing next to Ariana Grande and Michelle Yeoh, who are sharing a scene together. Three, in this film version of this musical that I love so much,’” the Saturday Night Live castmember said. “All of it was just these different braids of surreal elements coming together as one.”
As a fan of Wicked himself, Yang believes his fellow enthusiasts will be happy with the film adaptation, which has been split into two parts. Its star-studded cast also includes Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Keala Settle, Bronwyn James and Adam James.
He noted that part of the reason he thinks the adaption will go over well with fans is because the people who are creating it are excited and acknowledge the pressure they’re under to make it good.
“I’ve never really been a part of something on that scale and on that emotional importance to people,” Yang said. “It’s like, no one’s bigger than Oz. No one’s bigger than this concept that’s really emotionally important in so many people’s lives and throughout different generations.”
Wicked: Part One will hit theaters Nov. 27, with Part Two being released a year later, on Nov. 26, 2025.
