Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are set to bring new life to Glinda and Elphaba in Universal Pictures’ adaptation of the hit musical Wicked.
At the Los Angeles premiere on Saturday, Nov. 9, both stars opened up about their excitement and the overwhelming support from fans.
“It’s pretty awesome. Yeah, it is. It’s a wonderful feeling, that’s for sure,” Erivo shared.
Related: ‘Wicked’ Director Compares the Movie Musical to a Concert in New Featurette
Grande described the support as “surreal” and “an honor.”
She continued by saying, “The fans have been so warm and so open and loving. They’ve embraced our Elphie and Glinda in a way that there’s… there are no words.”
“I don’t know if I expected that kind of reception, for them to welcome us in such a way, and it’s been really wonderful,” Erivo added.
A prequel to The Wizard of Oz, the new two-part movie franchise 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 musical will show Glinda and Elphaba meeting as students at Shiz University in the Land of Oz.
As previously reported per the official description, “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.”
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 also stars Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, and Peter Dinklage.
Wicked Part One is set to premiere on Nov. 22, just in time for Thanksgiving, with Part Two scheduled for release on Nov. 26, 2025.
Watch the interview below:
