Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo New 'Wicked' Update: 3-Hour Rehearsals On-Going?

Not more than four months since the movie musical cast were already announced, Cynthia Erivo already has some updates for their "fellow OZians."

Bumping into E!'s former "Rocky Horror Picture Show's Dr. Rocky Horror," Laverne Cox last night at the 2022 Screen Actors Guild Red Carpet, Cynthia Erivo had something to share with fans of the much-anticipated movie musical "Wicked."

Cynthia told ENews! recently that she is "very excited" about the upcoming film. Recalling how her audition went, the Tony-winner explained how she prepared for the main role.

"Before I even went to do the audition I knew that music like the back of my hand. I was doing it at drama school and sneaking up to the piano room and just learning it all," Cynthia explained.

Now, landing the role of Elphaba, Cynthia believed that it now all boils down to learning the music and the story and finding their way to sort through it.

She also gushed how she and her co-star, pop royalty, Ariana Grande, who will be playing the Good Witch of the North, Galinda, prepare for the upcoming filming of "Wicked."

"Ariana and I have been meeting and chatting and talking and building our own relationship because we know that it's a sisterhood and we want to be ready and prepared to be there for one another," Erivo mentioned.

Not present at the venue, Grande was revealed by Cynthia to have been spending time with her for "three hours," chatting with the latter to get to know each other and study their part.

Currently, the two are just "waiting" for filming to start as Cynthia admitted that they are "ready to rehearse and get into it."

The 'wicked' casting

Ever since the Broadway debut of Wicked in 2003, fans have been clamoring for a silver-screen version of the classic tale.

Casting announcements in November last year have "defied gravity" as fans were thrilled to have Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Galinda.

The two stellar leads have been all over on Instagram with their pink and green flowers and constant face timing, especially with their director, Jon Chu, who had previously directed "In The Heigths."

The film version of "Wicked" has been in the works for a long time, and Stephen Daldry's resignation most recently halted it as director in October due to schedule difficulties.

Stephen Schwartz, who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway production, is collaborating with Winnie Holzman on the adaptation of the screenplay.

According to reports, Marc Platt, who produced the Broadway musical, will also produce the film.