A costume designer on the new Wicked film has revealed the real reason why Dorothy’s ruby slippers aren’t red in the movie.

The huge new blockbuster film stars Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and has received rave reviews from critics.

In the original Wizard of Oz movie inspired by the 1900 book by L. Frank Baum – Dorothy’s slippers are famously ruby coloured.

But now costume designer Paul Tazewell has told PEOPLE: ‘They’re not ruby. In the book, they were these odd little silver boots.’

Because the original Wizard of Oz was made in color in 1939, the studio wanted to take advantage of the ability to showcase more colours.

So costume designer for MGM at the time, departed from the silver used in the Baum novel.

A costume designer on the new Wicked film has revealed the real reason why Dorothy’s ruby slippers aren’t red in the movie (Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba)

In the original Wizard of Oz movie inspired by the 1900 book by L. Frank Baum – Dorothy’s slippers are famously ruby coloured

Tazewell however decided to use the original book concept of silver shoes.

This week fans of Wicked shared their reactions to predictions that Ariana could win an Oscar for her role as Glinda.

Many enthusiasts took to social media the day after the first of the two-part, beloved musical adaptation movie premiered in theaters.

After longtime and new fans alike watched the pop singer’s performance in Wicked, a flurry of people started commenting on social media.

Regarding the speculation that she is on track to receive a nomination as well as win her first Oscar for her role as Glinda, a majority of people seemed to share the same sentiment.

This came after reports that Wicked earned the biggest opening day for a film based on a Broadway adaptation in domestic box office history and is projected to earn $117 million in just the opening weekend alone. 

One avid fan of Grande lauded the film critic George Carmi for saying the actress ‘deserves the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.’

‘Thank you [George Carmi], we appreciate you,’ the fan account penned on X, formerly Twitter.

But now costume designer Paul Tazewell has told PEOPLE : ‘They’re not ruby. In the book, they were these odd little silver boots’

Because the original Wizard of Oz was made in color in 1939, the studio wanted to take advantage of the ability to showcase more colours

Alongside a still image of Grande in the role of Glinda in the movie, another fan tweeted: ‘Give Ariana Grande the Oscar or at least Golden Globe for best performance in a comedy.’ 

Read More Wicked earns biggest opening day for film based on a Broadway adaption

In reaction to Variety’s prediction that the star is the frontrunner to win the Oscar, an X user wrote: ”And the Oscar goes to … ARIANA GRANDE!!!!!!!’ I can hear it so clearly.’ 

Another fan tweeted that they were questioning the casting last year: ‘Me a year ago: ‘Really? Ariana Grande in Wicked? Idk… Does she really have the acting chops?” 

After watching the movie, the Wicked fan shared their new reaction. ‘Me tonight: ‘Wicked is a near perfect movie and Ariana Grande is maybe the best thing about it. Holy s*** she’s so good! Is she gonna win the Oscar?” 

Another fan applauded her ‘great acting performance’ and cosigned the sentiment that she deserves an award,

‘After seeing Wicked, I’m incredibly confused by the hate Ariana Grande has been getting online… Not only was it a great acting performance by somebody who’s primarily a singer, but I think she deserves serious Oscar consideration. 

The re-telling of Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, and Glinda’s story premiered in wide release this weekend but Variety is already predicting Ariana will not only be nominated for an Academy Award, but she will win it. 

Nominations for the 2025 Oscars will be announced on January 17, 2025.

This week fans of Wicked shared their reactions to predictions that Ariana could win an Oscar for her role as Glinda

While Grande and Erivo are earning rave reviews from critics and audiences, they almost weren’t cast in the film. 

British filmmaker Stephen Daldry was originally set to direct the spectacle and had big plans to cast Lady Gaga as Elphaba and Shawn Mendes as Fiyero, according to Page Six. 

‘They had meetings, the two of them, about the character and who she would be. [Gaga] was essentially cast in his version, and then it fell through,’ the outlet’s source said.

But Daldry’s vision never came to be — he left the project in 2020 due to scheduling conflicts.