Abs-olutely Viral: Wicked Finally Drops Infamous Shirtless Deleted Scene with Jonathan Bailey

The wait is over for Wicked fans. Universal has officially released the legendary deleted montage featuring Jonathan Bailey and Ethan Slater shedding their shirts at Shiz University, and it's everything the internet hoped for.

The 'Jacked' Secret Behind the Cutting Room Floor

Released on December 26, 2025, the footage shows the core group—Elphaba, Glinda, Nessarose, Fiyero, and Boq—skipping class for a sun-drenched picnic in the woods. The highlight? Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) stripping off his shirt after chopping wood, followed by Boq (Ethan Slater) doing the same.

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Cast member Bowen Yang previously joked that the scene was cut not just for time, but because Slater was too "jacked" to play the insecure underdog. The montage also includes heavy foreshadowing, with Boq picking up an axe—a nod to his eventual transformation.

A Gift for the Fans

The scene isn't just about the physique; it captures a rare moment of pure happiness among the five friends before their lives take a darker turn. From Ariana Grande's Glinda sharing a fierce kiss with Fiyero to Elphaba's touching gift of black boots, it adds emotional depth that fans say they've been "changed for good" by seeing.