Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Cast in Wicked Film Adaptation

It had to happen! Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have been cast in a new film production of the musical Wicked. Erivo will appear as Elphaba, while Grande will take the role of Glinda. Jon M. Chu, who directed the recent adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights, will direct Wicked, though other release details have not yet been announced.

Chart-topping pop star Grande, 28, will play Galinda while Oscar-nominated British actress Erivo, 34, will appear as Elphaba Mark Meets Media are happy to confirm!

Jon M Chu, the filmmaker known for Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights, is on directing duties for the Wicked movie.

Erivo shared a picture to Instagram showing the moment she found out about the role alongside a handwritten message from Grande.

Grande also posted a picture of the moment she was told about the role with her 237 million Instagram followers and tweeted about wanting to be in the production back in 2011, writing that seeing it “Made me realize again how badly I want 2 play Glinda at some point in my life!” Erivo starred in the title role of National Geographic’s Genius: Aretha earlier this year after she released her debut album Ch. 1 Vs. 1 in September.

Chu wrote: “These two witches!! The emotional moment I got to tell @cynthiaerivo and @arianagrande that they were our Elphaba and Galinda in the @WickedMovie for @unistudios wait until you see what they bring!! It is other worldly. Ahhhhh!!!”

Wicked tells the backstory of The Wizard of Oz and what happened before Dorothy arrived in the enchanted world.

It debuted on Broadway in 2003 and has since surpassed one billion dollars (£742 million) in revenue – only the third show to do so alongside The Phantom Of The Opera and The Lion King.

Idina Menzel congratulates Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande on the announcement that they will play Elphaba and Glinda in Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of #Wicked:

Grammy-winner Grande is one of the world’s biggest pop stars and as well as her musical career also has an acting background.

She will appear in Adam McKay’s star-studded black comedy Don’t Look Up later this year.

Erivo, a Londoner, is accomplished on both the stage and screen. She has won an Emmy, a Grammy and a Tony Award, as well as earning a best actress nomination at the Oscars for 2019 biopic Harriet.

“May it change your lives for the better forever and ever as it has for us. So much love.”
Ariana Grande has announced that ‘r.e.m. beauty’ drops next Friday, November 12.

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Mark Boardman

Mark Boardman is an established showbiz journalist and freelance copywriter whose work has been published in Business Insider, Daily Mail, Bloomberg, MTV, Buzzfeed and The New York Post amongst other press. Often spotted on the red carpet at celebrity events and film screenings, Mark is a regular guest on BBC Radio London and in-demand for his opinions for media outlets including Newsweek. His TV credits include This Morning, The One Show and T4. Email Mark@MarkMeets.com