"You Could've Picked Me": This Wicked Deleted Scene With Elphaba & Glinda Is The Most Painful Of The Movie's Cuts

Following Wicked's release on digital, the film's deleted scenes have been released, and one Elphaba and Glinda scene in particular is such a difficult cut to see. Set in The Wizard of Oz universe, Wicked follows Elphaba during her time at Shiz University and beyond, as she befriends Glinda and learns how to accept and love herself. Though her green skin sets her apart from her peers, Elphaba is kind and caring towards the people around her and works to make positive changes in the world, though this ultimately backfires on her in Wicked's stunning ending.

Wicked has received acclaim since its release in November 2024 and garnered a massive fanbase, in large part due to the performances and chemistry between Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who portray Elphaba and Glinda respectively. The film currently holds an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it is one of the top-grossing movies of the year. It is no surprise, then, that the release of Wicked's deleted scenes has drawn attention online, with the "Elphaba's Promise" scene gaining attention for the heartfelt connection it created between the two leads.

Wicked's "Elphaba's Promise" Deleted Scene Explained (& Why Was It Cut?)

The "Elphaba's Promise" Scene Takes Place After Rescuing The Lion Cub

Wicked's "Elphaba's Promise" scene takes place after Elphaba and Fiyero have returned from rescuing the lion cub, and Glinda questions why Elphaba did not choose to include her in that moment. As the two are practicing their spells, Glinda turns to Elphaba and remarks, "I would've helped you. If you needed someone, you could have picked me." After hearing this confession from Glinda, Elphaba apologizes to her and says, "I won't leave you behind again," showing how far the two have come in their friendship.

This Wicked scene provides depth to the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda, and it gives insight into Glinda and her feelings for Elphaba. Understandably, after this clip was shared to X, many Wicked fans remarked that it should have been kept in the film because of the strong friendship that it depicts and the foreshadowing of later events. However, in an interview with Bustle, Wicked's director, Jon M. Chu, stated that he chose to cut the scene because it made it too obvious that Glinda would later join Elphaba in the Emerald City and, more practically, because of time constraints.

Why This Deleted Glinda & Elphaba Scene Should've Been Kept In Wicked

The Scene Helps Explain The Friends' Feelings And Actions

While Jon M. Chu had understandable reasons for cutting the scene, "Elphaba's Promise" ultimately could have benefited Wicked if it had been left in. Though the scene is only two minutes long, it adds clarity about how deeply Elphaba and Glinda care about each other. Glinda's earnest admission that she would have helped Elphaba shows that, despite her outward appearance of being popular and happy, she had never had a close friend like Elphaba before, and she wanted to be loyal to that friendship. The same is also true for Elphaba, as she realizes how much Glinda truly cares.

Additionally, beyond what the scene reveals about the characters' feelings up to that point, it also provides context for things that happen later in the film. "Elphaba's Promise" helps explain the duo's connection as they explore the Emerald City and meet The Wizard of Oz. The scene could also have helped deepen the film's final scenes and "Defying Gravity", since it would have helped clarify that despite the two being separated, they still care deeply and are happy for each other. However, with or without the deleted scenes, Wicked does a great job of displaying a friendship that is unlike any other.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes, Bustle