Current:Home > MyAriana Grande, Ethan Slater and the Entire Wicked Cast Stun in New Photos -Ascend Finance Compass
Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater and the Entire Wicked Cast Stun in New Photos
View
Date:2025-04-23 14:07:33
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! (6748)
Related
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- Rapper Julio Foolio Dead at 26 After Shooting at His Birthday Celebration
- US surgeon general declares gun violence a public health emergency
- A look at Julian Assange and how the long-jailed WikiLeaks founder is now on the verge of freedom
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- Trump Media rebounds after Trump hush money verdict spooked DJT shares
- Plans for mass shooting in Chattanooga, Tennessee office building 'failed,' police say
- Catastrophic flooding in Minnesota leaves entire communities under feet of water as lakes reach uncontrollable levels
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- A romance turned deadly or police frame job? Closing arguments loom in Karen Read trial
Ranking
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- Lawmakers in a New York county pass transgender athlete ban after earlier ban is thrown out in court
- A shooter who entered a Tennessee office building and caused a lockdown has died, police say
- Jerry Seinfeld mocks latest pro-Palestinian protesters: 'Just gave more money to a Jew'
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- Trump lawyers in classified documents case will ask the judge to suppress evidence from prosecutors
- Declaring an Epidemic of ‘Toxic Litter,’ Baltimore Targets Plastic Makers and Packaging in the Latest Example of Plastics Litigation
- Treasure hunters say they recovered hundreds of silver coins from iconic 1715 shipwrecks off Florida
Recommendation
Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
Death toll at Hajj pilgrimage rises to 1,300 amid extreme high temperatures
1 dead, 2 injured in East Village stabbing; man in custody, New York City police say
Police ask Texas prosecutors to treat attempted drowning of 3-year-old child as a hate crime
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
3,500 dog treat packages recalled over possible metal contamination, safety concerns
Princess Anne has been hospitalized after an accident thought to involve a horse
Sen. Bob Menendez's Egypt trip planning got weird, staffer recalls at bribery trial