Hidden easter eggs in Wicked that foreshadow Fiyero's tragic fate

There's nothing die-hard movie buffs love more than finding an easter egg with a totally mind-blowing second meaning.

Such is the case this week amongst viewers of Wicked, who believe they've uncovered a series of clues regarding the dark fate that much-loved character Fiyero will face when the second-half of the film lands next November.

For those out of the loop with the magical movie adaptation of the Broadway hit, Wicked tells the story of how the Wicked Witch of the West and The Good Witch - both characters made famous in 1939's The Wizard of Oz - were first friends at university.

Previously named Elphaba and Glinda (played by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande) the college roommates strike up an unlikely friendship, despite their physical differences.

Before their ultimate 'Defying Gravity' blow out at the end of the film, however - where Elpaba gives into her power and is portrayed as Oz's biggest villain - the duo butt heads after getting caught up in a love triangle with a roguish price named Fiyero.

Played by Bridgerton favourite Jonathan Bailey, Fiyero falls head over heels for Elphaba, with the pair sharing several sweet moments in the first-half, even though Glinda is also in love with him. Awkward, I know.

For many cinema-goers whose first experience of Wicked is director Jon M. Chu's latest production, the prince's future remains a mystery, with many hopeful that he and Elphaba will be able to build a relationship together.

Fiyero is embroiled in a love triangle with Elphaba and Glinda (Universal)

Viewers who've previously seen the musical in theatres will know by now, however, that Fiyero endures a heartbreaking fate in Act Two.

I mean, he does eventually get a happy ending right at the end of the production, but things are temporarily bleak for Oz's hunkiest bachelor.

And whilst the film's bosses haven't yet given any explicit indication about what will happen in the second-half (which lands in cinemas November 2025), eagle-eyed fans have noticed a few subtle hints cleverly embedded into the movie.

If you've gotten this far in our article and simply can't resist finding out what happens to Fiyero, keep reading.

WARNING: The rest of this article contains spoilers.

In the stage version - and likely in Act Two of the film - we see Fiyero captured by the evil Wizard's guards (oh, yeah, you know the Wizard of Oz? He's the real bad guy) in an attempt to draw Elphaba in.

By this point, the baddies have accidentally killed her sister Nessarose, so it's no surprise that Elphaba is uber-cautious.

Hoping to prevent her love from the same morbid fate, she puts a spell on him, which accidentally then turns him into the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz movie.

In the stage production, Fiyero is transformed into the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz (Warner Bros)

Yep, the one that eventually helps Dorothy to escape.

There are several hints in the first film that these events are soon to transpire, but only fans in the know will have likely picked up on them.

His performance of 'Dancing Through Life'

In The Wizard of Oz, the Scarecrow constantly complains about the absence of his brain, even going as far as to sing a song titled, 'If I Only Had A Brain'.

And in Wicked, Fiyero makes several references to being brainless, more specifically in his song, 'Dancing Through Life'.

The lyrics hear him sing: "Life's more painless / For the brainless / Why think too hard? / When it's so soothing / Dancing through life.

"Life is fraughtless / When you're thoughtless,” he goes on, later adding: “Dancing through life / Mindless and careless."

A subtle clue, but a clue nonetheless.

Corny moments

Where are scarecrows most commonly found? Corn fields.

Fiyero regularly sings about not having a brain in Wicked (Universal)

And in Wicked, there are countless references to the sweet vegetable in scenes featuring Fiyero.

In the same song, he sings, 'Dancing through life / Swaying and sweeping' - a possible reference to both swaying in a field, and being made out of a broomstick?

And just before his performance - where he can be seen dancing before several past corn insignias - he's actually shown holding a book titled Forbidden Corn.

Elphaba's spells

In The Wizard of Oz, The Wicked Witch of the West casts a sleep-inducing spell on Dorothy, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion, with the only individual immune to it being the Scarecrow.

And in Wicked, Fiyero is the only one unaffected by her poppy flowers spell, which has the same affect on everyone else.

Has she been protecting him from the very beginning?

Fiyero and the Scarecrow wear the same costume (Warner Bros/Universal)

Clever costumes

One scene in the first-half of the film sees Fiyero donning a gorgeous green suit with gold embellishments, whilst climbing a staircase to meet the Wizard.

Hyper-aware Wizard of Oz fans will recall that the Scarecrow appears to be wearing the exact same pattern when he meets the Wizard again, with a symbol from the suit poking out.

Don't worry, we didn't spot it until someone pointed it out.

Wicked's ending correlates with the conclusion of Judy Garland's version, with Elphaba being splashed with water and melts.

But, at the end of the stage show, Fiyero, the Scarecrow, knocking on the door where Elphaba melted and realises that she faked her death, with the forbidden lovers eventually riding off into the sunset together.

So, there you have it - they all get a happy ending after all.