Jonathan Bailey Unleashes Queer Magic as ‘Brutal and Dark’ Fiyero in 'Wicked: For Good'

If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing a queer prince shake up the Emerald City, Jonathan Bailey is about to make your fantasy reality—sequin boots and all. The openly gay British actor, already a fan favorite for his dazzling roles in Bridgerton and stage classics, has been crowned People’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2025, adding a deliciously queer twist to Hollywood’s most coveted honor . But as the world swoons, Bailey’s sights are set on something even more magical: reimagining Fiyero for Wicked: For Good, the hotly anticipated sequel that promises to upend Oz—and maybe, queer representation itself.

Bailey’s Fiyero isn’t your grandmother’s handsome prince. In a recent interview, Bailey teased a “brutal and dark” evolution for the character, hinting at layers of vulnerability and fierce intensity that will feel instantly familiar to LGBTQ+ audiences who know all about the power of transformation . “You get these amazing...realization that the best people who work all the time are really lovely and smart and self-aware like the actors who can play villains are usually the ones who are aware of dysfunction and why people act in those ways,” Bailey shared, describing the emotional depth he’s bringing to the role .

For queer viewers, this isn’t just a juicy bit of casting—it’s a cultural moment. Fiyero has always been a character of contradictions: privileged but restless, charming yet haunted. Bailey’s decision to lean into those shadows feels like a reclamation. In a Hollywood landscape that often sanitizes queer performers into safe supporting roles, Bailey is making it clear: the leading man can be complex, can be raw, can be—dare we say—wicked.

Bailey’s chemistry with Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) is already setting the internet ablaze, and not just because these two icons know how to belt a tune. Erivo, herself a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and a proud queer woman, brings her own sense of radical authenticity to the project. Together, they’re rewriting the rules of magical partnerships in Oz, with Bailey promising an “emotional” storyline that’s “brutal and dark” yet full of hope . For Bailey, the role is not just a performance—it’s a personal journey: “I am absolutely 150% invested in it. Not just good stuff, but the whole company of players,” he declared in a recent TV appearance .

Fans have already begun speculating about the possibilities: Will Fiyero’s arc reflect the outsider experience so central to queer life? Will the story dare to show vulnerability in its male lead, breaking the mold for young LGBTQ+ viewers who rarely see themselves reflected in fantasy epics? If Bailey’s track record is any indication, the answer is a resounding “yes—and then some.”

The timing couldn’t be more delicious. Bailey’s coronation as People’s Sexiest Man Alive—complete with “slutty little glasses,” as Jimmy Fallon cheekily put it—comes as the actor is stepping into one of his most ambitious roles . It’s a moment that feels tailor-made for the LGBTQ+ community, long denied our own heartthrobs in big-budget blockbusters. Bailey’s win isn’t just a headline—it’s a celebration of queer beauty, queer charisma, and queer visibility.

As Bailey himself told Fallon, the honor is “an honor of a lifetime,” and queer fans are quick to claim him as one of our own: a leading man who is unafraid to be vulnerable, sexy, and unapologetically himself .

Wicked has always resonated with LGBTQ+ fans. The story of misunderstood outsiders defying a cruel world, the bonds forged between outcasts, the celebration of difference—all are themes that speak directly to the queer experience. Bailey’s Fiyero promises to push that resonance even further, inviting viewers to see themselves not just on the sidelines, but at the heart of the story.

Bailey’s rise also marks a shift in Hollywood’s approach to LGBTQ+ talent. No longer relegated to coded sidekicks or tragic figures, out actors like Bailey are leading the charge in some of the industry’s biggest, boldest projects. With Wicked: For Good set to premiere November 21st, the stage is set for a queer cultural moment that’s as magical as it is meaningful .

Bailey’s unapologetic queerness is more than personal branding—it’s a challenge to an industry that too often asks LGBTQ+ performers to hide, to minimize, to code their identities. With Wicked: For Good, Bailey is forging a path that’s as glittering as the Yellow Brick Road, refusing to compromise on visibility or authenticity.

For LGBTQ+ audiences, this is the kind of representation that matters. It’s the wink from the stage, the nod in the orchestra pit, the sense that our stories—brutal, beautiful, nuanced—can be told in technicolor, with all the drama and joy we deserve.

As anticipation builds for Wicked: For Good, Bailey’s turn as Fiyero stands as a beacon for queer fans everywhere. The promise of a “brutal and dark” journey is not just about spectacle—it’s about truth. It’s about the possibility of seeing ourselves, not as the joke or the villain, but as the hero, the lover, the legend.

And as Bailey himself says, “Just getting the gang back together in any way, shape or form...would be amazing” . For queer audiences, it’s more than a reunion—it’s a revolution.