The final trailer for Wicked: For Good has arrived, and it reveals a major character transformation. The Tin Man, a classic figure from The Wizard of Oz, appears in a dramatic scene, but this is not a new character. The man inside the tin suit is a familiar face from the first film: Ethan Slater’s Boq.
The sequel, which continues the story of Elphaba and Glinda, will show how several beloved Wizard of Oz characters come to be. The trailer shows the Tin Man asking a haunting question, “What have you done to me?”, which directly points to the tragic backstory of Boq, the young Munchkin from Wicked (2024). The film is scheduled for release on November 21, 2025.
From Boq to the Tin Man
In the first Wicked movie, Ethan Slater played Boq, a cheerful Munchkin from Shiz University who had a crush on Glinda. In Wicked: For Good, his story takes a dark turn. The film follows the plot of the Broadway musical’s second act, where Boq undergoes a magical accident that transforms him into the Tin Man.
The transformation occurs after a series of tragic events involving Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose. After Elphaba enchants Nessarose’s shoes so she can walk, Boq feels he can finally leave her service. A heartbroken Nessarose tries to use a love spell from the Grimmerie to keep him with her, but the spell goes wrong and causes Boq’s heart to shrink. In a desperate attempt to save his life, Elphaba casts another spell that turns him into a tin man, a being who no longer needs a heart to survive.
The Trailer’s Big Reveal
The final trailer for Wicked: For Good, released on September 24, 2025, gave audiences their first clear look at the Tin Man. The character is shown from behind alongside Dorothy’s other companions before turning to deliver his line. The scene confirms the film will explore this iconic character’s origin.
Director Jon M. Chu playfully confirmed the casting on social media. After Ethan Slater posted a picture of himself in the full Tin Man costume on Instagram, Chu commented with a single, fitting word: “Heartless.”
The film’s hair and makeup artist, Frances Hannon, explained that the design aimed to make the Tin Man look sympathetic. The costume used a combination of practical effects and CGI, with items from the room where the transformation happens—like a tray for his breastplate and thimbles for his hands—attaching to Boq’s body during the spell.
A Faithful Adaptation
The storyline for the Tin Man appears to be a faithful adaptation from the stage musical. In the narrative, Boq blames Elphaba for his metallic fate, which leads him to join the hunt for the Wicked Witch of the West. This aligns with the trailer’s moment where the Wizard commands his new allies to “Bring me the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West so I have proof that she’s dead.”
Ethan Slater has spoken about the excitement of exploring Boq’s story further in the sequel, noting that fans will see “how things get twisted over time.” The actor described the experience of working on the two films as “a dream.”
The Tin Man’s Place in the Story
Wicked: For Good adapts the second half of the musical, showing the aftermath of Elphaba and Glinda’s fractured friendship. Elphaba is now a fugitive known as the Wicked Witch of the West, while Glinda is the public symbol of goodness working for the Wizard. The arrival of Dorothy Gale in Oz sets in motion the events that lead to the final confrontation.
The Tin Man is not the only classic character whose origin is explored. The trailer also hints at the transformation of Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero into the Scarecrow, another key plot point from the musical. The film will show how these characters’ paths tragically intersect with the witches of Oz.
Also Read: Wicked: For Good Trailer Breaks the Internet; Fans Say They’ll Be Crying in Theaters
