Little-known reasons why ‘Wicked: Part 2’ changed Dorothy’s iconic ruby shoes
The book published by L. Frank Baum features a famous item that was overlooked in the iconic 1939 film.
One of the most anticipated movie releases of late 2025 is Wicked: Part 2, the musical set in the world of The Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum’s classic novel published in 1900.
The 1939 Judy Garland film remains a global icon and one of its most famous details actually deviates from Baum’s original story.
Now, 125 years later, that detail is getting a fresh spotlight and this time is staying true to the book. The topic in question? Dorothy’s ruby slippers, arguably the most famous pair of shoes in movie history and a collector’s item sold at auction for $28 millions. Fans have been asking why the shoes in Wicked appear silver instead of red, but the film is actually honoring Baum’s original vision.
Why have the ruby shoes changed?
In the 1939 movie, Dorothy’s silver shoes were changed to ruby red to take full advantage of Technicolor. Ruby stood out more dramatically, especially against the yellow brick road, and the color became instantly iconic.
Wicked: Part 2 includes a clever nod to that legacy. The film shows the shoes beginning to turn red through a spell, acknowledging Victor Fleming’s classic while still presenting them as silver, which is how Baum described them more than a century ago.
However that is only one part of the explanation. USA Today reports that MGM still owns the rights to Dorothy’s ruby shoes, meaning that Universal Pictures were unable to use them for the ‘Wicked’ films.
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