The first section of this article includes a brief reference to sexual assault.

MAJOR SPOILERS for Wicked: Part 1, Wicked: Part 2, the Wicked broadway musical, and the Wicked book are ahead!

Though Frexpar Thropp raises Elphaba in The Wizard of Oz’s antagonist character – The Wicked Witch of the West – whose true name in Wicked is Elphaba Thropp.

While the musical provides some information about Elphaba’s backstory through exposition, the stage show spends less time focusing on her childhood and more time emphasizing her time at Shiz University. While the focus is still on Elphaba’s time with Glinda at Shiz, the movie makes a Wicked: Part 2.

The Wizard Is Elphaba's Real Father In Wicked

The Wizard Has A One Night Stand With Melena Thropp

Wicked: Part 1 provides insight into Elphaba’s complicated family tree, which includes Frexpar Thropp – a father who loathes his eldest daughter – and a mysterious biological father who isn’t in the picture. Though his face is never shown in Wicked: Part 1, The Wizard is Elphaba’s biological father, which is only revealed at the end of both the book and the frothier Broadway musical.

The dark Wicked book makes it clear that The Wizard drugged and raped Melena Thropp, resulting in Elphaba’s conception. The musical softens the incident but still blurs the line of consent, having The Wizard repeatedly pressure her to get drunk before he comes onto her. However, Wicked: Part 1 makes the interaction seem slightly more consensual as Melena Thropp appears cognizant, chooses to drink the green elixir before The Wizard starts singing, and starts undressing him, rather than him coming onto her.

The Wizard isn’t aware that Melena got pregnant and had a baby after their hookup. The musical has him learn this piece of information after she’s already dead, causing him sorrow. Elphaba never knows the true identity of her biological father in this version, while she learns the information from The Clock of the Time Dragon in the book. Since the two-part Wicked movie aligns more significantly with the musical, it’s likely Elphaba won’t learn of her lineage in Wicked: Part 2.

How Wicked Sets Up The Reveal About Elphaba & The Wizard

Wicked: Part 1 Foreshadows The Relationship Between The Wizard And Elphaba

Even though it doesn’t reveal The Wizard’s identity, Wicked: Part 1 provides small bits of foreshadowing that will lead into the Wicked: Part 2 reveal. Firstly, Jeff Goldblum, who plays The Wizard, sings the father’s part in the “No One Mourns the Wicked” scene and on the Wicked soundtrack. His vocal tone is slightly different in that song compared to “Sentimental Man,” so not every viewer might connect the voice, though. The song “The Wizard and I” could also be seen as foreshadowing, considering the relationship she sings about wanting sounds very much like a father-daughter bond. She seeks out his approval since she doesn’t receive this kind of love and approval from the man who raised her. Elphaba’s song isn’t nearly as obvious of foreshadowing as The Wizard’s Wicked: Part 1 song, “Sentimental man.” He mentions throughout the song how much The Wizard always wanted to be a parent, which sets the foundation for his emotional reaction to the news in Wicked: Part 2. The lyrics read like this:

I am a sentimental man

Who always longed to be a father

That’s why I do the best I can

To treat each citizen of Oz as son or daughter

So, Elphaba I’d like to raise you high

‘Cause I think everyone deserves the chance to fly

And helping you with your ascent

Allows me to feel so parental

For I am a sentimental man.

Despite the fact that he clearly doesn’t treat every citizen of Oz with parental love, he does display a small degree of sincerity during “Sentimental Man.” Ultimately, the knowledge that he is responsible for helping harm and kill his own daughter breaks The Wizard at the end of the musical. With this in mind, he agrees to leave Oz once and for all.

Wicked Hides Elphaba's Father's Face To Set Up A Wicked 2 Twist

The Ending Of Wicked: Part 2 Will Reveal The Truth

In both the book and musical, Elphaba’s father’s identity is used as a plot twist, and it seems the Wicked movie is going in the same direction. Throughout “No One Mourns the Wicked,” the movie cleverly uses cinematographic elements like camera angles, video cuts, and lighting to obscure his face. He’s frequently shown from behind. Even when the camera goes from the front, his face is in the shadow of his hat, making it impossible to tell who he is from the visuals. Ultimately, this scene alone proves the brilliance of the Wicked creative team.

Based on the character’s hair, which is one of the only noticeable elements of Elphaba’s father, it’s possible Jeff Goldblum didn’t act in the scene, only providing the vocals in post-production. The actor famously has short salt and pepper-colored hair, while the character in the “No One Mourns the Wicked” scene has dark hair that’s slightly longer in the back. Whether he performed in that scene is pure speculation, though. Interestingly, the color, texture, and style of the character’s hair look extremely similar to Jeff Goldblum’s hairstyle in Jurassic Park.

Why The Wizard Being Elphaba's Father Is So Important In Wicked's Story

The Wizard's Earth Lineage Impacts Elphaba Thropp

The Wizard being Elphaba’s father might seem like a small detail connecting the character, but it has much bigger implications for Wicked’s main character. The Wizard’s green elixir is why Elphaba has green skin in Wicked. Her childhood experience as a bullied outcast shaped her personality and helped her build a connection with Dr. Dillamond. If she didn’t have that connection and empathy, she might not have taken action about the talking animals. It’s impossible to know whether this part of her is innate or developed. As such, The Wizard’s actions at the start of the story become his undoing at the end.

Additionally, The Wizard is from Earth, and he conceived Elphaba with Melena Thropp, an Ozian woman. The musical implies that the reason she has such extraordinary powers is because she’s born from both worlds. Somehow, this genealogy gave her a stronger connection to magic. The only other known Wicked character that possesses this magical aptitude is Madame Morrible, but she can only read a small amount of the Grimmerie, which is written in a Latin-based language from Earth. Even Glinda doesn’t possess Elphaba’s natural capacity for magic, as seen during “Popular” in Wicked: Part 1.