Wicked
Ariana Grande ’s sensational performance inWickedhas been one of the big talk point of 2024 , with the actress even securing an Academy Award nomination for her body of work in the project . However , there ’s an substitute universe where Grande was n’t involved inWickedat all , and it ’s much closer to realness than many would gestate . fortuitously this did n’t derive to pass , but there were otheractresses who were considered for Glinda first- and several come very tight to being cast .
Thankfully , Grande ’s functioning was widely accepted by both critic and audiences likewise , sparking what hopefully will become a new period of her career as an actress . The picture would not have been the same without her , and her more comedic portrayal of Glinda helped distinguish this cinematic adaptation ofWickedfrom both Gregory Maguire ’s novel and the original Broadway production . Grande is the arguable MVP ofWicked ’s cast , but there were concerns during the cast mental process that it would be difficult to separate the eccentric from Grande ’s existing public persona .
Jon M. Chu Worried That Casting Ariana Grande As Glinda Would Mean She Would Overwhelm The Movie
There Were Concerns That Audiences Wouldn’t Take Her Seriously
While many audiences were confident that Ariana Grande would be able to pull off Glinda ’s graphic symbol in a path that felt sweet and newfangled , Wicked ’s director Jon M. Chu was n’t so sure . The filmmaker had expressed concern that Grande ’s reputation would be inherently prejudicial to her interpretation of the fiber , with consultation superimposing her pop star image onto Glinda . Chu discusses this inWicked ’s particular features , admitting that “ in my head , I was like , we ’re never give this to Ariana Grande . ”
The first trailer for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande ’s Wicked : For Good may come very soon , build even more hype for this subsequence ’s unveiling in 2025 .
The concerns arose thanks to Grande ’s score of want to trifle the role since she was very young , which made Chu worry that audiences would struggle to see the character through her own public accounts of want to limn her . The music director was distressed that Grande ’s involvement would “ just take over the movie , ” turn the casting process into a whole public ordeal . There are n’t manycharacters quite like Glinda , and it was crucial thatWickedfound the correct actress for the job .
Ariana Grande Is The Most Memorable Part Of Wicked - But Not For The Reason The Director Thought
Grande Delivers The Movie’s Most Entertaining Performance
Thankfully , Grande care to overcome the lumbering expectations that came with the character and ended up being the most memorable part of the entire picture - in a good way . Despite concerns that her pa ace repute would dominate the character reference and change the audience ’s perception of her , Grande totally disappeared into the roleand delivered a carrying into action unlike anything she ’d manage before .
Glinda is the largest personality inWickedby a long shot , andGrande to the full leaned into the comedic side of this characterto transform her into an extremely likable and relatable design . The traces of Glinda ’s “ meanspirited girl ” persona are still there , but it ’s always played for laugh with a witty naivete that was consistently praised in Kristen Chenoweth ’s performance in the Broadway product . Glinda ’s human relationship with Elphabawas tackled perfectly , swear on the natural chemistry between Grande and Erivo to find that spark .
It Was Ariana Grande Who Refused To Do A New Version Of “Popular,” Essentially For This Reason
The Actress Was Aware Of The Director’s Concerns
Incidentally , Grande was clearly cognisant of the consequence that her celebrity character may have on the character of Glinda and actively tried to prevent this . When her involvement in the movie had been support , Wicked ’s player and lyrist Stephen Schwartz approached her and slope a “ hip - record hop inspired”version of Glinda ’s most remarkable song “ Popular ” , which Grande immediately shut down . The actress was concerned that it would shift the Song dynasty ’s tone too heavily , upsetting fans and coming across as self - indulgent .
The actress was always adamant that she did n’t desire to be playing herself in this cinematic version ofWicked , but rather she want to absolutely channel the Glinda that she ’d watched on Broadway all those class prior .
This decision ultimately proved to be an excellent one , as“Popular ” ranked amongWicked ’s in effect melodic numbersand carry off to stay true to the spirit of Schwartz ’s original vision . The actress was always adamant that she did n’t want to be play herself in this cinematic variation ofWicked , but rather she wanted to perfectly canalize the Glinda that she ’d watched on Broadway all those years prior . And despite a few changes to the script and a more openly comedic performance , that ’s exactly what Ariana Grande did .
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repellent adapts the Broadway musical into a two - part film , following the unbelievable friendly relationship between Elphaba , birth with green pelt , and Glinda , a pop patrician , in the Land of Oz . As they voyage their contrasting route , they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West .
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
