Dhaka, Dec. 11 -- Behind the world of Oz in the two-part "Wicked" films were the people responsible for choosing who would inhabit it. Long before filming began, casting directors were quietly shaping the production by selecting the actors who ultimately brought the story to life.

"Our job is to know every actor out there - or know how to find the ones we don't," said Bernard Telsey, one of the industry's leading casting directors who, along with Tiffany Little Canfield, cast both "Wicked" movies.

Casting will receive long-awaited recognition at the next Oscars. The Academy Awards will introduce a new category honoring achievement in casting when the 98th ceremony airs live on ABC on March 15, 2026 - a milestone many in the field say is...