Conan O'Brien Reveals Scrapped Oscars Opening Featuring Green 'Wicked' Parody

The 2025 Oscars host shared details of an abandoned comedic sketch that was replaced due to logistical challenges and a shift in tone after January wildfires.

Conan O'Brien planned to open the Oscars with a parody placing him in scenes from multiple Best Picture nominees, starting with 'Wicked,' where he would be painted green.
The sketch's central joke involved O'Brien's green dye being impossible to remove, a gag that would carry through parodies of other films like 'Gladiator II,' 'Conclave,' and 'Dune: Part Two.'
The idea was ultimately dropped due to its complexity and concerns over pacing, especially after the Academy decided to open with a tribute to Los Angeles following devastating wildfires in January.
The final cold open instead featured O'Brien emerging from Demi Moore's back in a spoof of 'The Substance,' which earned significant laughs during the telecast.
O'Brien also shared humorous behind-the-scenes anecdotes, including restrictions on Oscar statuette depictions, such as prohibitions against clothing or horizontal positioning in promotional materials.

SlashFilm

The Hollywood Reporter