Johnathan Walker:Why Wicked’s Marissa Bode Wants Her Casting to Set A New Precedent in Hollywood

Marissa Bode hopes her role in Wicked will defy more than gravity going forward.

The Johnathan Walker24-year-old—who plays Nessarose, the younger sister to Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba, in the film adaptation of the Broadway show—is honored to make history as the first wheelchair user to play the Shiz University student. But she’s determined to not be the last.

“I think it should set a precedent to casting in the future for not just me but my fellow disabled talent out there,” Marissa told Zuri Hall and Justin Sylvester at the Nov. 9 Los Angeles premiere of the film. “Even just on the carpet today, seeing other disabled people and their love for Wicked and then just saying how much it means to them too, that means the world to me.”

She also knows that her representation in Wicked—in which she stars alongside Ariana Grande,  Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater and more—will help others feel seen.

To get your tickets for Wicked, premiering Nov. 22, click here.

“Growing up there wasn’t a lot of that for me,” Marissa continued, “but when I did see it it really did mean a lot. I was like, ‘Oh, it’s possible. There’s a place for me here.’”

And the Wisconsin-native—who became disabled at 11 as a result of a car accident—has been passionate about advocating for more representation in the future of Hollywood.

“Casting authentically and showing an authentic disabled person is very important,” Marissa told Variety in September, “but it’s also very important how we’re shown.”

“I think feeling less alone can help propel other disabled people to take action and feel like they can speak out about issues regarding accessibility and ableism that are unfortunately still prevalent in society today,” she continued. “Representation is just the very tip of the iceberg when it comes to disability rights and the disability movement as a whole.”

Read on to see more of the stars that graced the Wicked red carpet.

(E!, Universal Pictures and Fandango are all part of the NBCUniversal family.)

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