Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Light Up CinemaCon With ‘Wicked’ as Director Jon M. Chu Fights Back Tears: ‘We Dreamed Very Big’
“Wicked” stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo traveled (by bubble, we assume) to Las Vegas for CinemaCon, the annual convention for movie theater owners.
Dressed in their character’s signature pink and green aesthetic, the Grammy-nominated artists graced the stage at Caesars Palace to hype up “Wicked,” the big-budget movie musical that’s due in theaters around Thanksgiving.
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“We both felt such a tremendous responsibility to honor these women and to pour our hearts, our souls, our tears — so many different pairs of lashes,” said Grande, who requested to hold hands with her co-star on stage. Erivo added, “I’m really grateful for this journey that we’ve taken together.”
Though they didn’t sing (to the disappointment of many in the room), they introduced an extended featurette. Scored to “Popular” and “Defying Gravity,” the dazzling footage showcased the sweeping, brightly lit world and includes scenes of Elphaba roaming the halls of Shiz University before meeting her new roommate Glinda. The trailer also offers glimpses at Glinda’s college friends Pfannee (Bowen Yang) and ShenShen (Bronwyn James) who are in the room as Elphaba gets her signature sharp, black witch hat before they all dance the night away at the famed Ozdust Ballroom. Later, as Elphaba comes into her powers, those magical talents put her on the radar of the Wizard and bring the pink and green duo to the sparkling Emerald City.
During the CinemaCon presentation, Universal confirmed that Peter Dinklage will voice the beloved Shiz University professor Dr. Dillamond.
A prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” “Wicked” recounts everything that happened before (and a few things that took place after) Dorothy sauntered down that iconic yellow brick road. Like the hugely pop-u-lar Broadway show, it tells the story of the unlikely friendship (and later rivalry) of Erivo’s Elphaba, who later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and Grande’s Glinda, known as the Good Witch. “Wicked” has some of the most beloved songs in musical theater, like “Defying Gravity,” “Popular” and “For Good” — all of which Grande and Erivo opted to sing live on set rather than relying on pre-recorded tracks.
Universal’s chair and CEO Donna Langley introduced the film, which closed out the studio’s nearly two-hour CinemaCon presentation. “The world has loved and celebrated this musical for more than 20 years,” she said. “It’s proof that our future is unlimited, and the Wizard will see you now.”
Universal is clearly betting big on “Wicked,” devoting nearly 30 minutes to hyping the crowd for the mega-budgeted musical and trotting out stars like Jeff Goldblum (who plays the Wizard), Jonathan Bailey (as the charming love interest Fiyero), Michelle Yeoh (as Shiz University headmaster Madame Morrible). Also in attendance was filmmaker Jon M. Chu and producer Marc Platt, who had a heavy hand in turning the Broadway show into an enduring smash. “I always intended it to be a movie,” said Platt.
Chu is directing the two-part epic, with the first installment set to land in theaters on Nov. 27 and the second to follow on Dec. 25, 2025. Stephen Schwartz, who wrote the music and lyrics to the Broadway show, is adapting the screenplay with Winnie Holzman. Chu became visibly emotional before introducing his leading ladies, choking back tears as Platt touched him on the shoulder.
“We dreamed very, very, very big for ‘Wicked,'” Chu said from the stage. “We wanted to honor the source material. But we also wanted to create a new world of its own — a magical land full of sights and sounds that will astonish.”
Universal heavily teased “Wicked” before its CinemaCon presentation as well, showcasing costumes including Glinda’s pink gown and Elphaba’s all-black ensemble in the lobby of the Colosseum at Caesars Palace and placing white tulips in the cupholders of every seat. Attendees were also handed light-up badges that were adorned with the film’s official poster. Both the flowers and lanyards lit up the vast auditorium, timed to the iconic overture of “Wicked.”
Universal’s president of domestic distribution Jim Orr made a promise to the room of exhibitors: “This holiday season, we intend to turn your theaters green in every sense of the word. You got that, right?” he cracked. “Y’all are wicked smart.”
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