Jeff Goldblum says he became a vegetarian after playing the Wizard of Oz in Jon M. Chu’s blockbuster sequel “Wicked: For Good.”
In a recent interview on “This Morning,” Goldblum talked about how lucky he feels to be able to play such an impactful role as The Wizard at age 73. He also added that he has stopped eating meat because of the film’s theme of animal cruelty.
“It’s unusual to be in this job for a period of time and then get a role that’s more rewarding, engaging, interesting and relevant to you,” Goldblum said. “Working with Jon Chu is amazing. I’ve changed. After doing this movie, we talked about animal cruelty. I stopped eating meat and poultry.”
He added: “We need the world to work for the benefit of every person and every creature on the planet.”
Goldblum, who played the Oz villain in the 2024 film “Wicked,” will reprise the role in “Wicked: For Good,” which opens on November 21. Co-stars include Ariana Grande as Glinda, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, and Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible.
The first “Wicked” was nominated for 10 Academy Awards last year, winning Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.
“Wicked: For Good” is expected to repeat with 10 nominations, led by Erivo and Grande, who will be nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. If they play the same role, they will become the seventh and eighth actors in Oscar history to be nominated twice for the same role.
