Marissa Bode Fell Backward in Her Wheelchair While FilmingWickedDance Number ‘Dancing Through Life'

Mar. 15, 2025

Marissa Bode in 2024.Photo:Gareth Cattermole/Getty

Gareth Cattermole/Getty

Marissa Bode, who makes her movie debut playing fan-favorite Nessarose in 2024’sWicked, is dishing on an “epic” on-set mishap.The actress, 24, described the incident while speaking toEntertainment Weeklyin a recent interview, explaining that she fell out of her wheelchair while filming the dance number “Dancing Through Life” with her scene partnerEthan Slater(who plays Boq in the film).“I did fall backward one of the times. It was really epic,” Bode said, noting she was “laughing a lot” while “everyone else around me looked so concerned.“When anyone falls, it’s the most terrifying thing,” Slater, 32, chimed in. “But there was also something disconcerting about how much [Marissa was] laughing as it happened. We were like, ‘That’s got to mean that it’s bad.’ “Marissa Bode as Nessarose and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in ‘Wicked’ from Universal Pictures.Universal StudiosThe specific scene features Boq asking Nessarose to dance in an attempt to impress Glinda (Ariana Grande). He also takes the moment to tell Nessarose that she’s “beautiful.““It’s such a pivotal point in the movie when they form a friendship,” Bode toldEW. “To Nessa, maybe a little bit more than a friendship. But what’s established in that moment carries through the rest of the film.““That’s actually a big moment in the [ballroom] … realizing that what he’s done in asking her out as a friend could seem as though he were taking pity on her,” Slater added. “There’s a moment of realization of, ‘Oh, that’s actually not the right way to treat people, and I didn’t mean it that way.’ There’s a genuine connection in that moment that I’m really grateful for. There’s a real bond that they form. It just means a different thing to each of them.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Ethan Slater and Marissa Bode attend a screening of ‘Wicked’ on Nov. 14, 2024.Roy Rochlin/GettyThe scene’s choreography was also specifically designed to emphasize the importance of this moment for Nessarose."[Director] Jon [M. Chu] made it very clear early on: This moment is about her feeling like she’s flying,” Christopher Scott, the film’s choreographer, toldThe Los Angeles Timesabout the scene.“This is the happiest moment of her life,” he continued, “and she needs to feel all the things that she carries with her throughout her life, that we all do, just disappear.“Along with Slater, Bode and Grande,the cast ofWickedincludesCynthia Erivo,Michelle Yeoh,Jeff Goldblum,Jonathan Bailey,Peter DinklageandBowen Yang.Wickedis in theaters now.

Marissa Bode, who makes her movie debut playing fan-favorite Nessarose in 2024’sWicked, is dishing on an “epic” on-set mishap.

The actress, 24, described the incident while speaking toEntertainment Weeklyin a recent interview, explaining that she fell out of her wheelchair while filming the dance number “Dancing Through Life” with her scene partnerEthan Slater(who plays Boq in the film).

“I did fall backward one of the times. It was really epic,” Bode said, noting she was “laughing a lot” while “everyone else around me looked so concerned.

“When anyone falls, it’s the most terrifying thing,” Slater, 32, chimed in. “But there was also something disconcerting about how much [Marissa was] laughing as it happened. We were like, ‘That’s got to mean that it’s bad.’ "

Marissa Bode as Nessarose and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in ‘Wicked’ from Universal Pictures.Universal Studios

Universal Studios

The specific scene features Boq asking Nessarose to dance in an attempt to impress Glinda (Ariana Grande). He also takes the moment to tell Nessarose that she’s “beautiful.”

“It’s such a pivotal point in the movie when they form a friendship,” Bode toldEW. “To Nessa, maybe a little bit more than a friendship. But what’s established in that moment carries through the rest of the film.”

“That’s actually a big moment in the [ballroom] … realizing that what he’s done in asking her out as a friend could seem as though he were taking pity on her,” Slater added. “There’s a moment of realization of, ‘Oh, that’s actually not the right way to treat people, and I didn’t mean it that way.’ There’s a genuine connection in that moment that I’m really grateful for. There’s a real bond that they form. It just means a different thing to each of them.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Ethan Slater and Marissa Bode attend a screening of ‘Wicked’ on Nov. 14, 2024.Roy Rochlin/Getty

Roy Rochlin/Getty

The scene’s choreography was also specifically designed to emphasize the importance of this moment for Nessarose.

“[Director] Jon [M. Chu] made it very clear early on: This moment is about her feeling like she’s flying,” Christopher Scott, the film’s choreographer, toldThe Los Angeles Timesabout the scene.

“This is the happiest moment of her life,” he continued, “and she needs to feel all the things that she carries with her throughout her life, that we all do, just disappear.”

Along with Slater, Bode and Grande,the cast ofWickedincludesCynthia Erivo,Michelle Yeoh,Jeff Goldblum,Jonathan Bailey,Peter DinklageandBowen Yang.

Wickedis in theaters now.

source: people.com