Cynthia Erivo may have just delivered some expert-level side-eye to the other aspiring Glindas who auditioned for the role in the upcoming Wicked movie!
Yes, indeed—while Cynthia is stepping into the shoes (and let’s be honest, the green paint) of Elphaba, the soon-to-be iconic on-screen Wicked Witch, it’s pop princess Ariana Grande who’ll be channeling her inner bubble gum and sparkles as Glinda in this mega-budget two-part movie adaptation of the musical. But, oh, the tea got spilled when Cynthia was asked to weigh in on Ariana’s casting.
In an interview with The New York Times, Cynthia and Ariana were politely asked, “So, what did you think of each other’s casting?”—you know, just a nice, simple question, no drama required. Cynthia responded, “Absolutely no surprise whatsoever.” Ariana chimed in with a relieved, “I said, ‘Thank God.’” Which, let’s be real, translates roughly to, “Phew, thank Glinda’s glittering tiara it wasn’t someone else!”
But here’s where it got juicy: Cynthia added, “Thank goodness, because it was NOT the two ladies that I was auditioning with.” (Cue Ariana’s jaw dropping and a very genuine “Oh my God!” because we all know that’s celebrity-speak for “Girl, did you just go there?”)
We already know at least four other hopeful actresses auditioned for Glinda and, well, didn’t end up singing “Popular” on set. Who? Oh, wouldn’t we all love to know. But it seems Cynthia had her own version of “I feel pretty” vibes when she heard Ariana got it. Bless.
Cynthia also opened up about why she never thought she’d even be in the running for Elphaba. “Historically, Black women haven’t exactly been front and center for this role. If they do get considered, they’re often the alternate or the understudy,” she shared. “There’s only one woman I know who played it in the West End, once, and they never brought her back.” Basically, she was skeptical, thinking casting might stick to the usual mold.
But now here we are, with Cynthia as Elphaba and Ariana as Glinda, proving that sometimes the Wickedly unexpected casting choice is exactly what we need.
