So is it fair to infer that Universal and John Chu‘s Wicked (11.22) is a some kind of family-friendly delivery device for queer theology?

Cynthia Erivo‘s real-life sexuality and the metaphor of Elphaba Thopp’s frowned-upon outsider identity aside, Wicked has no openly queer characters, but “this hasn’t stopped fans from exploring several queer-coded elements and metaphors,” says one of the queer-authored essays I’ve been reading.

Elphaba has a thing early on for Jonathan Bailey‘s Fiyero Tigelaar, a “Winkie prince”, but the deeper, more profound friendship is between Elphaba (destined to become tHe Wicked Witch of the West) and Ariana Grande‘s Galinda Upland, who becomes Glinda the Good Witch (played by Billie Burke in The Wizard of Oz).

I’m presuming that square, middle-American moms and dads are most likely overjoyed that yet another family-angled entertainment from Hollywood wokesters will be selling queer theology to their kids. I for one am delighted on Sutton’s behalf.