Ariana Grande has felt a connection to Wicked since she was a child. The singer and actress stars in the big screen adaptation as “Glinda” opposite Cynthia Erivo’s “Elphaba.”
In the featurette for the movie musical, Grande and Erivo reflect on their journey to landing roles in the film from director Jon M. Chu.
“I had the incredible privilege of seeing the original Broadway cast of Wicked when I was ten, and I just felt an immediate bond,” Grande, 31, shares in the video released by Universal Pictures.
“I never thought in my lifetime that I would get to be part of something like this,” Erivo, 37, adds.
Also Read: ‘Wicked’ Director Describes the Movie Musical as ‘Best Concert Ever’
A prequel to The Wizard of Oz, the new two-part movie event follows the events that happened before Dorothy followed the yellow brick road and Elphaba, ostracized for her green skin, became the Wicked Witch of the West.
The movie will show Glinda and Elphaba meeting as students at Shiz University in the Land of Oz.
Per Universal, “Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future.”
Chu, known for helming Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights, says in the featurette he “always” wanted to direct Wicked.
The video shows the director making video calls to Erivo and Grande to tell them they’ve landed roles in the film.
“Oh my God, thank you. I love her so much, I’m going to take such good care of her,” Grande says through tears.
“It’s been a really long journey and I’m really grateful for it,” Erivo adds.
Based on the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked is adapted for the screen by the stage production’s book writer Winnie Holzman and by Grammy and Oscar-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz.
The film’s cast also includes Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, and Peter Dinklage.
The first installment arrives in theaters on Nov.22, just in time for Thanksgiving. The sequel is set for release on Nov. 26, 2025.
Watch the featurette above and the trailer for part-one of Wicked below.
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