‘Wicked: for good’ makeup team reveals surprising method behind Jonathan Bailey’s Scarecrow transformation

The creative team behind Wicked: For Good has revealed detailed insights into how Jonathan Bailey’s character Fiyero was transformed into the Scarecrow, sharing firsthand quotes about the careful design work that brought one of the film’s most striking visual moments to life.

Hair and makeup department head Frances Hannon described how the team built on Fiyero’s original look to reflect his dramatic evolution. Hannon said they started with a “large toupee” for Bailey’s royal Winkie prince appearance, weaving in “blocks of gold through it to emulate the gold on the uniform.”

When it came time to create the Scarecrow transformation, Hannon explained how they adapted the character’s hair: “I kept the same shape of the hair but put all the textures of the field in, straw, hay, and dry grass.” This layered approach helped the Scarecrow feel grounded in the landscape and character’s emotional journey, while also maintaining continuity with Fiyero’s earlier look.

The prosthetics team also faced nuanced decisions, particularly about the Scarecrow’s facial features. Hannon noted, “How should it end? How dark should the brown be on the little end? What’s distracting? What’s not?” as they tested various shades and materials to strike the right balance.

Discussing the choice to retain Fiyero’s natural eye color in the Scarecrow form, Hannon laughed while describing a symbolic touch: “We used Jonathan’s natural dark‑brown eyes to represent the earth of the field, whereas he had blue eyes as Fiyero. You could really see it was the Sexiest Man Alive coming through.”

Beyond character prosthetics, the team also ensured even the creatures in Fiyero’s world received distinctive treatment. Hannon explained that multiple horses used in earlier scenes were dyed and given a unique iridescent finish, a process developed with specialist products to achieve effects “that had never been done before.”