Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande defied expectations in the trailer for Wicked: Part 1, embodying the well-loved stage musical characters Elphaba and Glinda.
Released on the 168th birthday of L. Frank Baum, the original author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Wicked trailer comes after budding anticipation from fans of the Broadway musical of the same name.
Grammy-winning singers and actresses Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo will be playing Glinda and Elphaba, characters in the 2003 Broadway musical originated by Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel.
The new Wicked trailer gives a much more expansive view of Munchkinland and Shiz University, where most of the story takes place.
Grande, who has since confessed that playing Glinda was her dream, was glistening in pink in her various outfits in the movie. She was joined by comedian Bowen Yang and actress Bronwyn James, who will play as her close friends, Pfannee and ShenShen.
Eagle-eyed fans have spotted that the released trailer heavily features several musical acts, including scenes from "No One Mourns the Wicked," "Dancing Through Life," "What Is This Feeling?" and "Popular."
Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh commanded the scene with her frightening Madame Morrible, Shiz University's sorcery teacher, while Jonathan Bailey's enchanting entrance as the dashing Fiyero Tigelaar captivated audiences.
Erivo's Elphaba soared on its own as her seriousness complemented Grande's Glinda's quirkiness. In the latter part of the trailer, when Erivo and Grande take the train to Emerald City to face the Wizard of Oz, played by the very convincing Jeff Goldblum, Erivo's "Defying Gravity" can be heard in the background.
"Defying Gravity," essentially the most popular song from Wicked, is reported to play a pivotal role in the new film, which will be split in half. Reportedly, the film's first part will be cut just like how the original Broadway musical cuts its first and second acts - after the show-stopping "Defying Gravity" number.
Grande and Erivo have grown closer and considered themselves "sisters" since the film started.
"She is really truly my sister. We really found in each other things we needed," Grande told Variety when she was asked about Erivo. "I can't wait for everyone to see it."
Recalling her first day on set, Grande admitted she was in tears.
"My first day on set for 'Wicked' was the most emotional day of my life," Grande remembered. "All I remember was holding hands with Cynthia [Erivo] and Jon [Chu] and crying. And [Jon] saying, 'Welcome to "Wicked." '"
Wicked: Part 1 will be released on Nov. 27, 2024.
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