Ethan Slater
American actor and singer
is a Munchkin man and a central character in the musical Wicked, where he is portrayed as a friend of Elphaba and Glinda during their time at Shiz University. He becomes the Tin Woodman in the story, a transformation that occurs after he is involved in a relationship with Nessarose, Elphaba's younger sister, primarily to impress Glinda, whom he truly loves. When Nessarose discovers his feelings for Glinda, she attempts to cast a spell to bind him to her, but mispronounces it, causing his heart to shrink; Elphaba saves his life by transforming him into the Tin Man. The character is played by Ethan Slater in the 2024 film Wicked and its 2025 sequel Wicked: For Good, with Slater undergoing 20 days of prosthetic makeup to portray the Tin Man. The musical adaptation reimagines Boq as a composite character, merging his story with that of the Tin Man to deepen the emotional narrative.
Factsheet
Born Ethan Samuel Slater
(1992-06-02) June 2, 1992 (age 33)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
(1992-06-02) June 2, 1992 (age 33)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Alma mater Vassar College (BA)
Occupations Actor
singer
singer
Born Ethan Samuel Slater
(1992-06-02) June 2, 1992 (age 33)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
(1992-06-02) June 2, 1992 (age 33)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Alma mater Vassar College (BA)
Occupations Actor
singer
singer
Fandom
wicked.fandom.com › wiki › Boq › Musical
Boq | Wicked Wiki | Fandom
1 week ago - Boq (also known as Moq and Bog in other productions) is the Munchkin man who was Elphaba and Glinda's friend during their time at Shiz University in Wicked. He is also the man who becomes the Tin Woodman and is Nessarose's love interest.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/wicked › a critique about boq’s fate
r/wicked on Reddit: A critique about Boq’s fate
December 7, 2024 -
So we all know Boq’s actions in Act 1 of the musical leads to him being turned into the Tin Man in Act 2, but what I find frustrating is that after his transformation (post Wicked Witch of the East) he essentially ceases to exist in the remainder of the show. We know through the Wizard of Oz that he travels with Dorothy, meets the wizard, finds out he’s a fraud and gets a ticking clock but after that he has no character resolution. No confrontation with Glinda, no apologies for his actions, nothing. I could see if his arc was about self love and by the end he doesn’t need Glinda just himself, but the musical doesn’t set that up to be an issue with him. He kind of just falls flat and disappeared. Anyone else feel like this?
Top answer 1 of 5
27
Yeah, Act 2 of the musical is rushed in general. I assume the movie will expand on it.
2 of 5
15
This is definitely where I have to separate the musical from the movie cuz it just… doesn’t match. You’re telling me being handed a watch to boost his self-love is going to be satisfying enough closure for him? At least Fiyero gets closure by running off with Elphaba. I really don’t think we can even equate Boq in Wicked with the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, they’re completely different personalities with different motivations…
Videos
05:16
Ethan Slater Talks Boq's Emotional Arc in 'Wicked: For Good' - YouTube
01:34
Wicked | Meet Boq - YouTube
Meet Boq. 🧡 #WickedMovie | TikTok
Ethan Slays as Boq in Wicked the Musical
The way Ethan Slater teased Boq's transformation in 'Wicked ...
Did Boq deserve his fate?
I have never been a fan of Boq. He just felt too whiny to me, although I haven’t had to deal with his level of extreme misfortune. I think his purpose was to be more two dimensional, so I think in general he just lacks redeeming qualities. More on reddit.com
40
110
September 15, 2022How does Boq become the tin man SO FAST
When elphaba moves him next to the dresser, there’s a double waiting. So the first time we see the tin man isn’t actually Boq More on reddit.com
12
36
July 5, 2020Plot twist - Boq succeeds!
Probably helped that fiyero is gay
More on reddit.com 34
125
June 5, 2022Alex Brightman: Boq
I’m surprised you’ve never come across this before. It was where I first knew of him from. More on reddit.com
1
31
January 19, 2023Broadway World
broadwayworld.com › article › Video-Ethan-Slater-on-Boqs-Character-Transformation-in-WICKED-FOR-GOOD-20251218
Video: Ethan Slater on Boq's Character Transformation in WICKED: FOR GOOD
1 day ago - In a new featurette for Wicked: For Good, Ethan Slater speaks about the dramatic transformation of his character, Boq, as seen in the new movie. Check it out now.
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Ethan_Slater
Ethan Slater - Wikipedia
2 weeks ago - He played the character of SpongeBob ... the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He played Boq Woodsman in the musical films Wicked (2024) and Wicked: For Good (2025)....
Fandom
wicked.fandom.com › wiki › Boq › Films
Boq Woodsman - Wicked Wiki - Fandom
1 week ago - JavaScript is disabled in your browser · Please enable JavaScript to proceed · A required part of this site couldn’t load. This may be due to a browser extension, network issues, or browser settings. Please check your connection, disable any ad blockers, or try using a different browser
IMDb
imdb.com › title › tt1262426 › characters › nm5724788
Wicked (2024) - Ethan Slater as Boq - IMDb
Boq: Um, I hope you'll save a dance for me tonight. I'll be right there, waiting...
E! Online
eonline.com › home › news › ethan-slater-on-wicked-for-good-tin-man-prosthetics
Wicked: For Good’s Ethan Slater Breaks Down His 20 Days of Prosthetics
Ethan Slater, who plays munchkin Boq in the Wicked movies, shared what it was like spending 20 days filming in prosthetics for his character's Tin Man transformation.
Published 1 month ago
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Wicked_(musical)
Wicked (musical) - Wikipedia
5 days ago - Feeling guilty, Elphaba enchants Nessa's silver shoes to allow her to walk, but Boq takes this as proof that Nessarose no longer needs him and attempts to leave her for Glinda. An infuriated Nessarose attempts to cast a love spell on him, but pronounces the incantation wrong and shrinks his heart instead. Elphaba tries to save him, but can only transform him into a tin man who does not need a heart to live ("The Wicked Witch of the East").
/Film
slashfilm.com › 1770177 › wicked-boq-tin-man-wizard-of-oz-storyline-explained
How One Wicked Character Becomes The Tin Man In The Wizard Of Oz - SlashFilm
January 25, 2025 - ... When we meet Boq in "Wicked: ... rival Prince Fiyero Tigelaar (Jonathan Bailey) in the eye — and he's played by Ethan Slater, an actor known for his roles in Broadway shows like "The SpongeBob Musical" and ...
IMDb
imdb.com › title › tt1262426
Wicked (2024) ⭐ 7.4 | Fantasy, Musical, Romance
1 month ago - Elphaba, a young woman ridiculed for her green skin, and Galinda, a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. After an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads.
Us Weekly
usmagazine.com › home › who is the tin man in ‘wicked: for good’? what to know about ‘wizard of oz’ character
Who Is the Tin Man in ‘Wicked: For Good’? All About ‘Wizard of Oz’ Character | Us Weekly
September 24, 2025 - Slater had a supporting role in 2024’s Wicked as Boq Woodsman, a resident of Munchkinland who develops feelings for Ariana Grande’s Glinda the Good Witch.
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Wicked_(2024_film)
Wicked (2024 film) - Wikipedia
3 days ago - Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp, ... a handsome prince from Winkie Country who meets Elphaba and Galinda at school · Ethan Slater as Boq Woodsman, a Munchkin in love with Galinda...
AP News
apnews.com › article › wicked-ethan-slater-ariana-grande-26a69a719e3b81bf9f7936ace465452e
Ethan Slater has landed the role of Boq in 'Wicked' opposite Ariana Grande | AP News
November 12, 2024 - You could say that Ethan Slater’s yellow brick road to getting cast in the big screen adaptation of “Wicked” had an element of magic to it. On the day he was asked to submit a tape of himself for the role of Boq, Slater was playing the ...
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
Wicked | Meet Boq - YouTube
Meet Boq. 🧡 #WickedMoviePre-save ‘Wicked The Soundtrack’ at https://wickedthesoundtrack.comVisit: ShizUniversity.com-----TikTok: tiktok.com/@wickedmovieFACE...
Published November 4, 2024
Victoria Times Colonist
timescolonist.com › film-news › ethan-slater-landing-the-role-of-boq-in-wicked-has-an-element-of-magic-to-it-9798087
Ethan Slater landing the role of Boq in 'Wicked' has an element of magic to it - Victoria Times Colonist
November 12, 2024 - It was such a pleasure and a gift to watch a pal use the spirit of something that’s come before and spin it into something new and wholly original. He is Boq.” · “Wicked” is a prequel to the events of “Wizard of Oz.” It stars Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba.
ScreenRant
screenrant.com › home › wicked › what nessarose realizes about boq in wicked's ending & what it means for part 2
What Nessarose Realizes About Boq In Wicked's Ending & What It Means For Part 2
December 7, 2024 - Boq isn't interested in Nessarose at all but asks her out as a way to impress Glinda and steal her from Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). When Nessa realizes this in the musical's second act, she lashes out against him and accidentally curses him; his life is only saved by Elphaba transforming him into the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz. This is the moment that illustrates Nessa as a tyrant and a villain, but Wicked's ending shows that her jealousy isn't unfounded and that Boq is also to blame for the explosive dissolution of their relationship.
Kiddle
kids.kiddle.co › Boq
Boq facts for kids
October 17, 2025 - This book tells the story of Oz from a different point of view. Boq also plays a key role in the 2003 Broadway musical Wicked, which is based on Maguire's novel.
Tumblr
tumblr.com › tagged › wicked boq
wicked boq on Tumblr
See a recent post on Tumblr from @sexybread-png about wicked boq. Discover more posts about wicked boq.
ScreenRant
screenrant.com › home › wicked › the wicked movie is making the tin man's origin even more tragic thanks to a big musical change
The Wicked Movie Is Making The Tin Man's Origin Even More Tragic Thanks To A Big Musical Change
November 9, 2024 - Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) needs to step in to save Boq's life, but it comes at the cost of him being transformed into the Tin Man. Due to an important change that the first Wicked movie is making, the buildup to this game-changing moment will be quite different.
ScreenRant
screenrant.com › home › wicked › glinda getting boq's name wrong in wicked is deeper than i originally realized
Glinda Getting Boq's Name Wrong In Wicked Is Deeper Than I Originally Realized
March 25, 2025 - Director Jon M. Chu's Wicked was one of the most exciting movies of 2024 and has some surprisingly complex relationships between its characters, including that of Glinda (Ariana Grande-Butera) and Boq (Ethan Slater).