Jonathan Bailey Reunited With His Bridgerton Horse In Wicked

Jonathan Bailey reconnected with a Bridgerton co-star on the set of Wicked, and their “amazing relationship” inspired the actor’s grand entrance in the movie musical.

Appearing recently on The Popcorn Podcast, Bailey discussed his character Fiyero Tigelaar’s first Wicked scene, in which he dramatically dismounts from a horse. Host Tim Iffland said he was “in awe” of the “fabulous moment” and asked how it came to be. In response, the actor revealed that he’d worked with the horse, Jack, on Netflix’s Bridgerton and credited their on-set bond with making him “confident to go for gold.”

Saying that Jack “needs to have a special mention,” Bailey explained he’d “built a trust and a rapport” with him on Bridgerton. “He’s incredibly focused and can deliver a very stable scene partner,” he added.

The actor also recently spoke of his relationship with the noble steed in an official Wicked movie TikTok. “People say don’t work with kids and animals, but if it’s Jack, I’d say take the job,” he said. “He’s a legend.”

Bailey, who plays the dashing Lord Anthony in Bridgerton, has filmed with Jack throughout the show’s three seasons, including one memorable scene in Season 2, in which he and his on-screen love interest, Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma, first met while out horseback riding.

Bridgerton fans soon caught wind of Jack and Bailey’s Wicked reunion. “I’m gonna need him to adopt the horse,” one fan joked on Reddit. “Awww! I love that he has a real connection with his horse,” another commented, while one user described their bond as “so freaking cute.”

Bailey’s Wicked Easter Eggs

Adapted from the original Broadway play and Gregory Maguire’s same-named book, Wicked tells the story of the green-skinned witch Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), who forms an unlikely friendship with her classmate Glinda (Ariana Grande) and winds up on a journey to becoming the Wicked Witch of the West. Jon M. Chu’s movie musical adaptation arrives in theaters on Nov. 22, and along with Bailey, Grande, and Erivo, also stars Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Ethan Slater, among others.

Later in his Popcorn Podcast interview, Bailey was asked about some apparent Easter eggs in Wicked that connect the film to the original Wizard of Oz, which is set in the same fictional universe.

“You click your heels,” host Iffland pointed out, referring to the character of Dorothy Gale (played by Judy Garland), who famously clicks her heels together in The Wizard of Oz. “Is this potentially a nod to Dorothy throughout the film?” he asked, to which Bailey responded, “Of course, there’s so many Easter eggs.”