Current:Home > FinanceAriana Grande, Ethan Slater and the Entire Wicked Cast Stun in New Photos -Capitatum
Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater and the Entire Wicked Cast Stun in New Photos
PredictIQ Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-06 01:36:06
This cast is already quite popular.
The first official photos of Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater, and more stars on the set of the upcoming Wicked film were just released by Vanity Fair—and they'll make fans of the iconic Broadway production defy gravity with excitement.
For the "yes and?" singer, who transforms into the pink bubbly Glinda the Good Witch in the new pictures, the preparation for the role has been a lifetime in the making.
"It was literally 10 years of being like, ‘Knock, knock, any developments?'" Ariana joked to Vanity Fair in the first look published March 21. "‘Is there an audition coming this year, or next year? I would like to start preparing today.'"
Meanwhile, Cynthia, who plays the protagonist Elphaba, was one of the last actresses brought in to audition for the character later known as The Wicked Witch of the West.
And while she admitted she didn't think she'd be "seen," once the film's director Jon M. Chu and producer Marc Platt (who also produced the original Broadway musical) saw her audition, they knew they'd found their lead, adding, "We're like, ‘We're done.'"
As a prequel to the Wizard of Oz, Wicked—based on the 1995 book—gives the backstory of the unlikely friendship between Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West. And as the film's leads, Ariana and Cynthia were able to forge a strong bond.
"I just need to say that I don't think people realize that she's got the chops," Cynthia told Vanity Fair of Ariana. "I don't think people realize how brilliant this person's brain and voice and talent is."
Meanwhile, the Grammy winner was quick to return the compliment, noting of the Harriet star, "She's my favorite female voice."
And while Platt had originally thought of casting unknowns for the highly-anticipated project, the upcoming Broadway adaptation—set to release in November—is one of the most star-studded musical movie productions of the last few years. And with Cynthia and Ariana's vocal power, Chu seems to believe the right casting decisions were made.
"These are live vocals," Chu added to the outlet. "Those girls were like, ‘F--k the pre-records. We're going live.'"
In addition to Ariana, Cynthia, and Ethan—who earned a Tony nomination for his performance as Spongebob Squarepants on Broadway—the cast includes Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, and even Saturday Night Live's Bowen Yang.
Read on to see all the new Wicked cast photos.
Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba.
Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard and Michelle Yeoh as his colleague, Madame Morrible.
Jonathan Bailey as hearthob prince Fiyero.
Ariana told Vanity Fair that nabbing her Glinda role was "10 years" in the making.
Meanwhile, Cynthia said she trained "like a boxer" for her role.
Jeff is the not-so-wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Madam Morrible is the headmistress of Shiz University.
Marisa Bode (Nessarose), Ethan Slater (Boq) Bowen Yang (Pfannee), and Bronwyn James (ShenShen) round out the cast.
Wicked is set to hit theaters on November 27, 2024.
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (84615)
Related
- The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
- Selling Sunset’s Chrishell Stause Undergoes Surgery After “Vintage” Breast Implants Rupture
- 2024 Emmys: RuPaul’s Drag Race Stars Shut Down Claim They Walked Out During Traitors Win
- Vote South Dakota forum aims to shed light on ‘complicated’ election
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- A Kentucky lawmaker has been critically injured in lawn mower accident
- DEA shutting down two offices in China even as agency struggles to stem flow of fentanyl chemicals
- Bridge Fire destroys 54 structures, injures 3 firefighters: See wildfire map
- San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
- A state’s experience with grocery chain mergers spurs a fight to stop Albertsons’ deal with Kroger
Ranking
- Pregnant Kylie Kelce Shares Hilarious Question Her Daughter Asked Jason Kelce Amid Rising Fame
- Flappy Bird returning in 2025 after decade-long hiatus: 'I'm refreshed, reinvigorated'
- Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby signs two-year contract extension
- Man accused of charging police with machete fatally shot by Pennsylvania officer
- Average rate on 30
- Sustainable investing advocate says ‘anti-woke’ backlash in US won’t stop the movement
- Taylor Swift's Mom Andrea Swift Shares Sweet Moment with Travis Kelce's Mom
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Pop Tops
Recommendation
Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
Pregnant Pretty Little Liars Alum Torrey DeVitto Marries Jared LaPine
Research shows most people should take Social Security at 70: Why you may not want to wait
NFL Week 2 overreactions: Are the Saints a top contender? Ravens, Dolphins in trouble
Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
2024 Emmys: RuPaul’s Drag Race Stars Shut Down Claim They Walked Out During Traitors Win
Judge finds woman incompetent to stand trial in fatal stabbing of 3-year-old outside supermarket
Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan Shares Why She Was “Terrified” at the 2024 Emmys