"Wicked" Movie First Photos Revealed

Director Jon M. Chu has shared the first photos of American singer-actress Ariana Grande and English superstar Cynthia Erivo in the upcoming movie adaptation of the hit Broadway musical “Wicked”.

The photos featured Grande as Glinda the Good Witch, made famous by Kristin Chenoweth in the original 2003 production, and Erivo as Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West, the role originated by Idina Menzel on Broadway. 

“You weren’t told the whole story. What happens when you veer off the Yellow Brick Road? FIRST LOOK of the #WickedMovie … currently in production in Oz. 🌪️🫧🧹,” Chu wrote on Instagram.

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"Wicked" is centered around the witches from the land of Oz and the unlikely friendship that is formed between The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.

The musical is based on the 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire, which itself is a retelling of the 1900 L. Frank Baum’s classic “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, is told from the perspective of the witches.

The adaptation is a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” and recounts everything that happened before Dorothy sauntered down that iconic yellow brick road — and tells the story of the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, who later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, known as the Good Witch. 

Americana Screenwriter Winnie Holsman and composer Steven Schwartz are adapting the new musical movie. 

The cast also features Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and Ethan Slater as Boq.

“Wicked” marks Grande and Erivo's comeback to Broadway. The “7 Rings” pop star got her start in the 2008 Broadway musical 13 as a teenager before breaking out on Nickelodeon’s “Victorious”. Erivo won the 2016 Tony Award for best performance by a leading actress in a musical for her portrayal of Celie in “The Color Purple”. 

Grande’s love for the production has been well-documented over the years, including her explosive performance of “The Wizard and I” on NBC’s “A Very Wicked Halloween” in 2018. 

“Wicked” is divided into two parts. The first installment is slated to hit theaters on Nov. 27, 2024, with the second installment set to release on Dec. 25, 2025.