Thankfully, the Wicked movie will be arriving soon!
Almost ten years after plans to adapt the hit musical was first announced, two stars, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, are finally attached to the project. If you have been following the latest entertainment news, you may have been privy to the fact that a movie adaptation of the popular Broadway musical Wicked is in the works. Although a lot of fans were expecting some acclaimed celebrities to take on the iconic roles of Elphaba and Glinda, the casting decisions may cause a few to raise their eyebrows.
Instead of casting megastars such as Jennifer Lopez, Renee Rapp, Katy Perry, Amanda Seyfried, Dove Cameron, Lea Michele, or even the Jonas Brothers, the production team chose lesser-known actors for the lead roles.
Cynthia Erivo will play Elphaba, while Ariana Grande will take on the role of Glinda in Jon M. Chu’s upcoming flick.
From Jonas Brothers to Amanda Seyfried: These Celebrities Passed Over for Wicked
The highly anticipated Broadway musical Wicked has left many wondering about the casting decisions made, leaving behind celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and the Jonas Brothers. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will lead the cast, with Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Jonathan Bailey in supporting roles, after bypassing A-list talent in favor of emerging performers.
The Jonas Brothers, both accomplished musicians and performers in their own right, auditioned for the same role in the Wicked film. In an interview with Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard podcast, Nick and Joe Jonas revealed that they tried out for an undisclosed role but failed to grab it.
Actors who auditioned for the upcoming film adaptation of ‘Wicked’.
— Jennifer Lopez
— Renee Rapp
— Katy Perry
— Amanda Seyfried
— Nick Jonas
— Joe Jonas
— Dove Cameron
— Lea Michele pic.twitter.com/ykLXT6kdHq— noah ☀️ (@bloodlineprint) March 21, 2024
They are joined by Amanda Seyfried, who also disclosed that she tried out for the role of Glinda, but Ariana Grande was ultimately cast in the role. During her interview with Backstage, the former discussed her audition, which took place while she was filming The Dropout.
Dove Cameron was also very determined to play Glinda; she had previously stated in an ET interview that landing the role had been a lifetime ambition of hers. In a People interview, she made the following comments regarding the “long” casting process:
“I know that for everybody who did go out for it, it was a very long process. It was one of the longer processes I’ve been a part of.”
As discussed above, English singer-actor Cynthia Erivo, 37, will play Elphaba, and pop sensation Ariana Grande, 30, will assume the role of Glinda.
While casting unpopular characters can sometimes result in breakout performances, the stakes are high when it comes to a beloved project like Wicked.
Wicked: What Else Must You Know About The Much-Awaited Flick?
Stephen Schwartz and Holzman’s stage musical of the same name, which was based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, is adapted into a two-part film, the first of which is Wicked. It centers on green-skinned Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo) and follows her journey to become the Wicked Witch of the West, all the while developing a strange bond with Galinda Upland (Ariana Grande).
Concurrently, both women are drawn to Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). Jon M. Chu is sitting behind the director chair of the flick, which is based on a screenplay by Winnie Holzman. In 2022, Variety reported that Cynthia and Grande had been spending time together in order to prepare for their respective roles. “I saw her a couple of months ago, we have been FaceTiming and talking”, Cynthia said.
The filmmakers and Universal are splitting the musical into two films, taking that very literally.
Special #Wicked Movie Announcement… ✌🏼🎬🧹🌸💚sent from my OzPhone: pic.twitter.com/4qPpvVD4rR
— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) April 26, 2022
The first Wicked movie will now be released on November 27, 2024, instead of December, as originally scheduled (see Deadline). In keeping with this, the second film is scheduled to open in theaters on November 26, 2025. Get ready for two holiday weekends filled with sing-alongs.
