Jonathan Bailey Stuns Fans With Shirtless Abs in Newly Released ‘Wicked’ Deleted Scene
Fans finally got to see a highly anticipated deleted scene from the first Wicked movie featuring Jonathan Bailey and Ethan Slater shirtless as Fiyero and Boq. The scene was teased last year by Bowen Yang on Trisha Paytas’ podcast, who mentioned that the two actors would be “ripping their shirts off,” leaving audiences curious about what happened to the footage. Now, the clip has officially been released online.
Entertainment Tonight shared the deleted scene on Friday, showing the main characters—Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), Glinda (Ariana Grande), Nessarose (Marissa Bode), Fiyero, and Boq—taking a break from Shiz University to spend time together in the woods.
In the montage, the group plays badminton, has a picnic, and enjoys moments of friendship. The clip also hints at future events, with Boq picking up an axe and a brief kiss between Fiyero and Glinda, along with Elphaba giving Glinda a pair of black boots.
Rejoicify! Jonathan Bailey and Ethan Slater show off their fit physiques in this deleted scene (the much-hyped friendship montage featuring Ariana Grande's Glinda, Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba and Marissa Bode's Nessa Rose) from 'Wicked: For Good,' available to rent or buy to watch at… pic.twitter.com/Dix0qRlBRC
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) December 26, 2025
The shirtless moment happens after Fiyero works up a sweat chopping wood and removes his shirt, amusing Glinda and Elphaba. Not wanting to be outdone, Boq takes off his shirt too, much to Nessarose’s delight.
Bowen Yang explained on the podcast why the scene was cut from the final film. “Look, he is jacked under that shirt,” Yang said, referring to Slater.
“They shot a whole montage after ‘Popular’… just to show the audience these are all friends now—Fiyero, Glinda, Elphaba, Nessa, and Boq… There was one moment where it’s Boq and Fiyero, Jonathan Bailey and Ethan Slater, ripping their shirts off. And so you were supposed to see Jonathan Bailey in his full shirtless glory, like flexing.”
Yang added that Boq’s shirtless reveal was meant to show his insecurity, “wanting to look hot too,” but Slater’s physique unintentionally overshadowed that. “But then it’s like, ‘Wait, Ethan’s got a great body,'” Yang said. “I might get in trouble for saying that. But the movie’s out, it’s fine.”
The release of this scene gives fans a glimpse of the playful energy between the characters before the story’s darker events unfold. Whether it changes anyone’s view of the movie is up for debate, but it’s clear audiences are enjoying seeing this unseen moment now.
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