‘Wicked’, the much-loved Broadway musical, is making its way to theaters in a big way this holiday season, directed by Jon M. Chu. This film takes fans back to the magical world of Oz but tells the lesser-known story of the witches—Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, and Glinda, portrayed by Ariana Grande. The movie dives into their lives as students at Shiz University, where they form an unexpected friendship that leads them down very different paths and eventually to their famous roles as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Ariana Grande brings her own unique connection to Glinda, a character she’s loved since childhood. Having grown up with ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and ‘Wicked’, Grande recalls how Glinda’s humor and charm captivated her even in her youth. “Growing up, I was really into children’s theatre. I played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz when I was nine, and Glinda’s humor always stood out to me,” Grande shares. Meeting Kristin Chenoweth, Broadway’s original Glinda, left a lasting impact, she says, adding, “It was like actual magic.“
Grande’s journey to landing this role is a story of dedication and personal connection. After auditioning, she felt so strongly about it that she wrote a heartfelt letter to director Jon M. Chu. “I wanted the reason that I landed this role to be performance-based; I wanted to earn it. Wicked means so much to me, and I had a deep sense that if I wasn’t right for this, that’s okay, but I worked very hard for it,” she explains. Embracing Glinda’s character also became a journey of personal growth, as she discovered new sides to herself through the role.
Working with Chu turned out to be a powerful experience for Grande, who felt he nurtured an environment of trust and respect. “Jon is a brilliant and thoughtful director. He made sure we learned and felt as much truth as possible,” she reflects. “The environment he created was loving, safe, and thoughtful. Every person involved was mindful of storytelling and each other.” For Grande, this experience has been truly transformative, and she’s excited for audiences to see the beloved musical come to life in a whole new way on screen.