who is the lion in wicked

The lion in Wicked is portrayed as a lion cub who later becomes the Cowardly Lion, a well-known character from The Wizard of Oz. In "Wicked: Part One," the lion cub is rescued and set free by Elphaba and Fiyero. This lion cub is the precursor to the Cowardly Lion featured in the original Oz stories. However, in the Wicked musical, the Cowardly Lion is a minor character who only appears briefly, mainly in the act 2 number "March of the Witch Hunters." His role is largely overshadowed by the Tin Man and Scarecrow, who have more prominent story arcs related to Elphaba and other main characters. In the broader Wicked universe (in books and film adaptations), the Cowardly Lion's real name is Brrr, and his backstory ties into the oppression of speaking animals in Oz, a theme highlighted in the prequel content about Wicked. Thus, the lion in Wicked starts as a lion cub linked to the Cowardly Lion legend from The Wizard of Oz, but he plays a small role in the musical itself and a more developed role in the extended Wicked story series and upcoming films.