Wicked: For Good: Wicked: For Good director Jon M. Chu has revealed a secret voice actor for Cowardly Lion

The director of Wicked: For Good, Jon M. Chu, has now hinted at a fun surprise that has movie fans buzzing. During a recent interview with Deadline, he suggested that a well-known actor will play the Cowardly Lion, and it is not just an incidental voice cameo. Chu disclosed that he had secretly sent the mystery star a DM to make it happen and that the unveiling will be something that fans will talk about, even after the individual appears on the red carpet.

The internet is currently entirely in guessing mode. Others believe it to be a large A-lister in a cameo appearance, with others spreading insane speculations of potential cast members. Either way, everybody is willing to know who is behind this lovable and nervous Lion of Oz in Wicked: For Good, which is set to premiere on November 21, 2025.

What John M. Chu said

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Jon M. Chu referred to the casting scene as a mini movie itself. In his interview with Deadline, he claimed that he sent the actor he approached for voicing Cowardly Lion’s part a personal message first, the type of DM that is friendly and life-changing simultaneously. He told Deadline:

“I was like, ‘It’s not a ton of lines, but maybe you have a little time. I know you’re busy. I’ll come to you.’ He was like, ‘Why….not, let’s go!’ And then we went ahead and recorded the lines.”

To tease the surprise, he did not tell anybody about this until Wicked: For Good was prepared to hint at the shock. That low-key, sneaky style fits the overall type of promotion that Wicked: For Good was going to have: a slow, exciting buildup; exhilarating surprises; a concluding trailer that finally reveals some details about Dorothy and her friends; and a PR campaign designed to keep the fans on their toes.

“Man, wait until the red carpet when the actor who gave us the Cowardly Lion’s voice steps foot on it. It’ll be wild.”

Surprise cameos are usually concealed by studios in order to allow the public to experience the genuine emotion of unfiltered surprise when it comes to such things and to make red-carpet premieres even more exciting. Here, the secrecy about Wicked: For Good’s Cowardly Lion voice cast seems intentional, making even a minor part a major thrilling experience.

Why the Cowardly Lion cameo in Wicked: For Good actually matters

A surprise voice can fuel a fun headline, although it has a significant creative purpose. The Cowardly Lion is not a mere source of amusement, though; in Wicked: For Good’s prequel story, we see the main Oz characters appear at the most important times, altering how we perceive Elphaba and Glinda. The fact that the Lion is voiced by a familiar face allows the filmmakers to reach out to the audience instantly. People having feelings or memories related to an actor can make his lines, no matter how few in number they are, more meaningful or funny.

Even the new trailers of Wicked: For Good contain some allusions to familiar Oz tales, such as the house of Dorothy, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow, so a recognizable-sounding Lion would unite this new film with the old Wizard of Oz world brilliantly and nostalgically.

In addition, there is also the marketing power. An unexpected voice will make people talk, create buzz on the internet, and make a premiere even more exciting. It is the type of reveal that leaves fans wondering and provides Wicked: For Good with additional attention that the trailers cannot always offer.