EXCLUSIVE: Wicked casting is 'huge step forward' after 'disgraceful miscasting'

Disability advocate Haleigh Rosa has spoken out about Wicked's diverse casting and explained why it is a 'huge step forward' for the industry after years of 'miscasting'

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Wicked has been in cinemas for a little over a week now, and along with fan sing-alongs, themed costumes, and viewers returning one, two, maybe three times, there have been some very strong opinions about the film.

Released last month, more than a decade after a film adaption of the hit Broadway musical was first announced, the Jon M. Chu-directed film starring Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey and many more much-loved actors has become a box office success, earning $112.5 million in the US and $162.5 million worldwide, making it this year's top-grossing opening weekend so far.

And while it's hits like Defying Gravity are holding space in the minds of movie goers, for other Wicked viewers, the films marks a significant milestone for people with disabilities, and especially those within the entertainment industry or those aspiring to be.

Sitting down with The Mirror, disability advocate, former news anchor, and Skims model Haleigh Rosa has shared her take on the film's diverse casting, which included Marissa Bode, an American actress who made her feature film debut playing Nessarose Thropp in the blockbuster.

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Marissa, 24, who uses a wheelchair after suffering a spinal injury in a car accident during her youth, made headlines last week after posting a five-minute long video on TikTok where she called out Wicked fans for making “aggressive” and “deeply uncomfortable” comments about both her and her character.

"Representation is important, but that’s not the only thing that will save the disabled community. I need a lot of y’all (non-disabled people) to do the work. To dissect and unlearn your own ableism. Listen to disabled people," she said in the video.

Doubling down on the actress's comments, Haleigh says Marissa's casting in the film is a step in the right direction for both the industry, not only in regard to casting disabled actors, but also authentic casting in general. "It's a big step forward," she said. "I'm so happy to see it. Marissa's casting will open doors for disabled actors and show how authentic casting should be the norm."

Addressing Hollywood's lack of diverse casting over the years, which has resulted in non-disabled actors being cast in the roles of disabled characters, Haleigh said it's something she finds "inauthentic and disgraceful". She added: "The moment people with disabilities aren't in control of how disability is portrayed, we end up with misrepresentation."

The advocate, who herself uses a wheelchair after surviving a car accident which left her paralysed from the waist down, said she hopes Wicked will encourage directors to continue to cast actors with disabilities in roles regardless of whether the character is disabled or not: "They deserve the part. No one should be overlooked for a role because of their disability."

Haleigh's comments follow Jon revealing to the Los Angeles Times that Marissa's casting application came in "quite late" in the process and followed a "big, intense search". It marked the first time an authentic wheelchair user was cast in the role of Nessarose throughout the entire 21 year history of Wicked.

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Insisting it was a decision that "transformed how we present Nessa in so many ways,” Jon told the news outlet that it was the right choice and encouraged Hollywood to prioritise making the same decision: “You’re going to spend more money and time on casting and dig harder around the world to find the right people, because not everybody’s represented, and they don’t know these roles exist and yet are so talented,” he said.

Marissa, who is also biracial and a member of the queer community, is determined to return to the big screen soon and told the news outlet that as well as working with disabled creatives, she would like to be cast in coming-of-age stories, horror projects and “more gay stuff".

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