Ariana Grande's Wicked Movie Role Will Deliver Something We've Wanted For 12 Years (2024)

Ariana Grande stars as Glinda the Good Witch in the upcoming Wicked movie, and her casting in the role allows a 12-year wish to finally be fulfilled. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the Wicked movie is the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical of the same name. Wicked tells the tale of Glinda Upland and Elphaba Thropp, two polar opposite witches from the Land of Oz who meet at Shiz University and form an unlikely friendship that faces many obstacles throughout the story.

Starring opposite Grande in the Wicked movie is Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. Wicked will be split into two parts, with Wicked: Part One arriving on November 27, 2024. The official trailer for Wicked: Part One has finally been released, giving a first glimpse at Grande as Glinda, Erivo as Elphaba, and the rest of the Wicked cast. Though the trailer only features a snippet of Erivo singing Elphaba's signature song, "Defying Gravity," one of Glinda's solo songs from Wicked ties back to a collaboration early in Grande's music career that makes her casting as Glinda especially perfect.

Wicked Will Finally See Ariana Grande Properly Sing "Popular"

Ariana Grande was featured on a song that sampled the Wicked tune

In 2012, before her debut album, Yours Truly, had even come out and she was still primarily known for her role on Victorious, Grande was featured on MIKA's "Popular Song," which incorporated elements of the song "Popular" that Glinda performs in the Wicked stage musical. The chorus of "Popular Song" interpolated the melody and remixed some of the lyrics of "Popular," including the hook. Now that Grande is playing Glinda in the Wicked movie, she'll finally be able to deliver a full performance of the original version of "Popular," twelve years later.

MIKA was actually inspired to write "Popular Song" after seeing Wicked on Broadway and disliking the message of "Popular." During the musical number, Glinda decides to make Elphaba her "new project" by giving her a makeover and teaching her how to become popular. "I thought, ‘Glinda’s actually being mean,'" he told Huff Post in 2013. "So I thought it would be nice to take the song and write my own version of it because I don’t like what she was saying in that part of the show."

Unlike "Popular," which makes being popular seem like the ultimate goal in life, "Popular Song" emphasizes how insignificant popularity is in the long run. It's written from the perspective of the unpopular kids, who have now made it big in the music industry ("'Cause I'm puttin' down my story in a popular song") and are playfully gloating about their success to the formerly popular kids ("Now you're in the front row 'cause my song is popular"). While "Popular Song" served to denounce the original song's message, seeing Grande sing "Popular" in Wicked will still feel like a full circle moment.

Why Ariana Grande Is Great Casting For Glinda The Good Witch In Wicked

Grande has an incredible singing voice, a musical theater background, and a long history with Wicked

Grande's feature on "Popular Song" unintentionally foreshadowed (or perhaps, even manifested) her casting as Glinda in the Wicked movie years prior, and it ended up working out for the best. Grande is perfect for the role of Glinda the Good Witch for many reasons. For one, Grande has an incredible singing voice and has the vocal range to hit the high notes in Glinda's songs. She is, without a doubt, one of the most talented vocalists of her generation and her musical prowess guarantees she'll nail the musical numbers in Wicked.

While Grande may not have much experience acting in movies, she does have the musical theater experience to bring Wicked to the big screen. Before starring on Nickelodeon, Grande made her Broadway debut at only 15 years old in the 2008 production of the musical 13, alongside future Victorious co-star Liz Gillies. Grande also played Penny Pingleton in the 2016 production of Hairspray Live!, a TV special that was broadcast live on NBC.

As for her history with Wicked, Grande has adored the musical since she was a child (via Zach Sang Show). In 2003, Grande saw Wicked on Broadway at ten years old and got to meet Kristin Chenoweth backstage, who originated the role of Glinda. They've maintained a close relationship ever since, and even co-starred in Hairspray Live! together, with Chenoweth playing Velma Von Tussle.

In 2018, Grande performed Elphaba's song, "The Wizard And I," for the NBC special, A Very Wicked Halloween. On the Zach Sang Show in 2019, Grande expressed that she'd "do anything" to star in any version of Wicked, on the stage or onscreen, and that playing Elphaba is one of her few "dream roles." Though she ended up getting cast as Glinda instead, Grande's involvement in the Wicked movie is still a dream come true for her.

2024 Will Be Huge For Ariana Grande

In addition to Wicked, Grande also has a new album coming out

2024 is shaping up to be a massive year for Grande's career. Wicked: Part One releases on November 27, 2024, which is sure to be a major spectacle. The hype for Wicked: Part One likely won't die down until 2025, but once it does, there's still Wicked: Part Two to look forward to later that same year. 2024 has ushered in the beginning of Grande's Wicked era, which is set up to last quite a while.

However, Grande's next studio album will arrive long before the first Wicked movie comes out in 2024. Shortly after dropping the first single, "yes, and?" on January 12, 2024, Grande officially announced that her new album, Eternal Sunshine, will be released on March 8, 2024. Eternal Sunshine will mark the first brand-new studio album from Grande in over three years, since she dropped Positions in October 2020. Between the first Wicked movie and her upcoming album release, 2024 is going to be Grande's year.

Source: Huff Post, Zach Sang Show