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Netflix Matilda the Musical features most of the major characters from Roald Dahl’s book and the original movie. However, one key figure is missing.
There is one key character missing from Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical. The 2022 musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s famous children’s book is in many ways a faithful take on the source material, as the main story follows Matilda going to Crunchem, developing a close bond with Miss Honey (Lashana Lynch), and helping her overthrow Miss Trunchbull (Emma Thompson). The development of Matilda’s magical powers is also retained for the adaptation. Still, the addition of music presents one example of how Matilda the Musical differs from the book and the original 1996 movie.
One area that the musical is both faithful and different comes with Matilda the Musical‘s cast. Led by Alisha Weir’s Matilda Wormwood, the Netflix original movie includes new takes on many characters that those familiar with the story will recognize. Viewers meet Mr. Wormwood and Mrs. Wormwood, as well as classmates like Lavender and Bruce Bogtrotter. Matilda the Musical also helps introduce some new characters to the mix, such as librarian Mrs. Phelps. The movie features just about every character expected as a result, but there is one character missing from Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical.
Matilda’s Brother Mike Wormwood Isn’t In Matilda The Musical
The most surprising change to come from Matilda the Musical is the removal of Matilda’s brother, Mike Wormwood. Played by Brian Levinson in the 1996 original movie, the character of Michael Wormwood is completely missing from Matilda the Musical. The older brother is featured in Dahl’s book and even the stage musical adaptation that inspired Netflix’s film, so his absence is quite unexpected. The lack of a role for Mike Wormwood in the 2022 movie leaves a hole in the family.
What makes Michael Wormwood’s absence from Matilda the Musical all the more surprising is how the film turns him into something of a joke. The film repeatedly makes it clear that Mr. Wormwood wanted a boy. He shows up at the hospital at the beginning with boy balloons and refuses to acknowledge the fact that Matilda is a girl. This goes so far that he almost exclusively refers to Matilda as a boy, much to the confusion of her and others. Of course, if Matilda the Musical followed the source material, Mike Wormwood would have been born and granted Mr. Wormwood that wish.
Why Mike Wormwood Was Cut From Matilda The Musical
Cutting Mike Wormwood from Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical appears to have been the result of the movie shifting its story focus. The 2022 movie adaptation spends far less time with Mr. Wormwood’s criminal activities, which Michael also participates in, and instead focuses on Matilda’s story. Leaving Matilda’s brother out of the Netflix musical allowed more time to be spent on the story Matilda was seeing in her head and her experiences at school. Since Michael Wormwood is only a secondary antagonist in the film, cutting him from Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical gave the movie time for the musical numbers and fleshing out more important characters.
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