Wicked
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Ariana Grande is opening up further about Glinda’s sexual orientation after saying in November that her Wicked character “might be a little in the closet.”
In a Variety cover story published Thursday (Jan. 2), the singer-actress was asked to elaborate on her thoughts about Glinda’s possible queerness in relation to Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba, with whom the “Good Witch” nurtures an intense, passionate love-hate relationship. The two women’s dynamic is only ever referred to as a friendship in the original Broadway musical, but in Grande’s eyes, it might be something more.
“I think she’s a person who loves so much, and I do think that it goes beyond gender,” the R.E.M. Beauty founder told the publication of Glinda. “I also think that the ways in which she loves Elphaba so much, and that forgiveness and that unconditional love that they share — I think they’re in love with each other.”
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“I know, yes, it’s platonic …,” she amended before cutting herself off, not wanting to reveal too much ahead of Jon M. Chu’s second Wicked film. “But we’ll talk about it more in depth in movie two.”
Author Gregory Maguire, who penned the bestselling novel on which the Broadway show is based, also shared his thoughts on the sexual tension in the book between the two characters in a December interview. “That was intentional, and it was modest and restrained and refined in such a way that one could imagine that one of those two young women had felt more than the other and had not wanted to say it,” he told Them. “Or perhaps because a novelist can’t write every scene, perhaps when the lights were out and the novelist was out having a smoke in the back alley, the girls had sex in the bed on the way to the Emerald City. I wanted to propose this possibility, but I did not want to make a declarative statement about.”
Grande’s new interview comes over a month after the first Wicked hit theaters Nov. 22, 2024, quickly becoming the top-grossing movie adaptation of a Broadway musical ever. Its sequel, Wicked: For Good, will arrive almost exactly a year later in the fall of 2025.
Grande previously spoke about her character’s sexuality in a November interview with Gay Times, candidly telling the outlet, “Maybe Glinda might be a little in the closet.”
“You never know! Give it a little time!” she’d added. “I mean, it is just a true love. And I think that transcends sexuality, it’s just kind of a deep safety within each other.”
The “We Can’t Be Friends” musician’s co-leading lady agreed at the time. “I think Elphie … she goes wherever the wind goes,” Erivo told the publication. “I think she loves Glinda, I think she loves love. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating the deep connection that both of them have … it’s a relationship, it is true love.”
See Grande, Erivo and Chu on the cover of Variety below.
Ariana Grande is reflecting on a highly productive and successful year.
On Tuesday (Dec. 31), the 31-year-old pop star and actress looked back on 2024, sharing a series of nostalgic photos and videos. In her Instagram post, Grande highlighted some of the standout moments from the past 12 months, including the filming of her record-breaking musical movie Wicked and the release of her seventh album, Eternal Sunshine.
“a year full of art and heart,” the “We Can’t Be Friends” singer captioned the post. “thank you eternally for your love and support, words truly don’t suffice. i love you always and am wishing you a all a very happy new year !”
Grande’s carousel begins with a stunning shot of her “Sleeping Beauties”-themed look, worn at an afterparty following the 2024 Met Gala. The gallery also includes photos with friends and Wicked castmates, including Cynthia Erivo and Bowen Yang, along with a playful shot of her in a Catwoman-inspired outfit from her “The Boy Is Mine” music video. Several heartwarming pictures with her mom, Joan Grande, and brother Frankie Grande are also featured.
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In her Instagram Story on Tuesday, Grande shared a mysterious clip showing her head tilted against what appears to be film equipment, with the caption, “to be continued…,” alongside a heart emoji. The image is reminscent of one of her Eternal Sunshine alternative album covers.
It’s been a monumental year for Grande. The two-time Grammy winner, who ranked No. 9 on Billboard’s list of Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century, scored her sixth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with Eternal Sunshine in March. Meanwhile, her new movie Wicked became the highest-grossing film ever based on a Broadway musical at the domestic box office, earning $634.4 million worldwide since its Nov. 22 release.
The year was rounded out with a milestone for her holiday hit “Santa Tell Me,” which reached the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10 for the first time since its release in November 2014. The track landed at No. 9 on the chart dated Dec. 28, after peaking at No. 11 in 2023.
Timothée Chalamet and Elle Fanning have seen Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo‘s viral Wicked meme — and yes, the A Complete Unknown costars are holding space for them.
In a recent video posted by The Advocate‘s Tracy Gilchrist — who went viral in November for a confusing but hilarious interaction with the Wicked actresses regarding the lyrics of “Defying Gravity” — the stars of James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biopic recreated that much-analyzed moment during their own interview with the journalist.
The clip begins with Gilchrist immediately breaking the ice. “First, I just want to let you know that I am holding space for you,” she says, referencing her own viral catchphrase and making Chalamet and Fanning laugh.
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The Dune actor the sticks out his finger as Fanning grabs onto it, mimicking how the “Yes, And?” singer held onto the Pinocchio actress’ finger in Gilchrist’s memorable interview with the Wicked leading ladies. “It’s an honor talking to you,” Chalamet proceeds to tell Gilchrist earnestly. “I feel like, sort of starstruck. I was like, ‘Tracy! Holy s–t. Okay, this better be good.’”
“There’s nothing that we can do that can trump what happened, you know what I mean?” Fanning chimes in as all three laugh.
Gilchrist’s interview with the A Complete Unknown stars comes a little over a month after the “holding space” meme originated. While chatting with Grande and Erivo about Wicked for Out magazine mid-November, the journalist began by saying, “This week, people are taking the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’ and really holding space with that.”
Erivo immediately got emotional as the Victorious alum, looking a little bit confused, held her friend’s finger for support. For days afterward, fans online went wild dissecting the exchange, with the uproar focusing in particular on what the definition of “holding space” could be.
Shortly afterward, Grande and Erivo revealed that they were just as perplexed during the interview as everyone else was when watching it. “I didn’t know what any part of it meant,” the “7 Rings” vocalist said, laughing, in a Variety video breaking down the meme with the Harriet star and Wicked director Jon M. Chu. “I remember in the moment, asking myself, ‘Am I okay? Did I not hear something?’” Gilchrist herself has since explained the meaning of “holding space” in addition to having some fun with the viral moment in a commercial.
Watch Chalamet and Fanning recreate the viral “holding space” meme below.
Cynthia Erivo is changing Wicked for good, from her performance as Elphaba to the original song she helped write for the second movie.
While serving as a guest on the latest episode of Variety‘s Awards Circuit podcast posted Thursday (Dec. 26), the 37-year-old singer-actress revealed that she worked with composer Stephen Schwartz on crafting an original track sung by her character in the upcoming sequel to November’s Wicked Part 1. “I don’t know if you’re ready for it,” she began.
“I mean, I love the song and I remember when we filmed it, the cast and crew were crying,” she continued. “I don’t know if that’s just because they were emotional that day or that’s what the song does.”
“I feel like the song is very, very special,” Erivo added. “I have a feeling that even the title will move you.”
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The Pinocchio star didn’t reveal any further details about the track, which will seemingly appear on the soundtrack for the November 2025-slated Wicked: For Good alongside the film cast’s versions of Schwartz’s original songbook for the Wicked Broadway musical. The soundtrack for the first film recently opened at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 — the highest ever debut for a big-screen adaptation of a stage musical on the chart.
Schwartz, however, previously revealed that he and director Jon M. Chu had worked to add two new songs to the Wicked soundtrack, both of which fans will hear for the first time in Part 2. “The storytelling required it, and therefore they were created,” he told The Messenger in early December. “The intention was that they were organic and not imposed on the movie.”
The Variety podcast arrived on the same day the Wicked cast — which also includes Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey and Michelle Yeoh — announced that Part 1 will become available to stream at home Dec. 31. The digital release will include extended content and deleted scenes previously not included in the nearly three-hour film, including a hilarious snippet of Glinda giving Elphaba thorough instructions on how to toss her hair and “talk with your eyebrows.”
“It’s time to relive the experience together,” Erivo says in a clip posted to Wicked‘s socials Dec. 26. “Sing your heart out in the comfort of your home. There is nowhere like home to watch Wicked.”
See the announcement below.
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Get ready to relive the magic of Wicked from the comfort of your home. The instant box-office hit, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, could be coming to streaming before you know it. Fresh off the heels of the new Lego Emerald City set, Amazon has unveiled a limited-edition Wicked box set that features a 4K UHD Blu-ray of both the theatrical version and a “sing-along” edition, exclusive merch, collectables, and gold-tone metal bookends.
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‘Wicked’ Exclusive Limited-Edition Giftset
While the film is still shattering records in theaters, the Amazon listing displays a March 31 shipping date for Blu-rays. Could this also be Wicked‘s digital and physical release date? Universal Pictures has yet to officially announced a physical release, but most films usually have a 90-day theatrical run and March would align with the musical’s window on the big screen before hitting digital and streaming services.
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While we wait for an official release date announcement, learn how you can pre-order and start prepping for Wicked’s inevitable streaming debut below.
How to Stream Wicked Online
With a possible streaming and digital release on March 31, here’s all the ways you may be able to stream Wicked online. Since the musical is a Universal Pictures release, Wicked will most likely be available online through NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock.
For just $7.99/month, Peacock offers live sports, original TV programming, movies and specials. Sign up now and start planning your Wicked sing-a-long party today.
VOD services like Amazon Prime and Apple have options to rent and purchase Wicked to watch at anytime on your smart TV, phone or tablet. Amazon already has the film available to preorder for $29.99 here.
Wicked: Part Two is set to premier in November 2025. To keep up the hype for biggest film of the year, here’s the original trailer for part one starring Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, alongside Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, and Ethan Slater.
Time to show off your wickedly good singing chops, as Wicked dropped a buzzed-about sing-along version of its film soundtrack on Friday (Dec. 20) via Universal Pictures / Republic Records / Verve Records. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Fans can channel their inner Ariana Grande as Glinda or […]
Ariana Grande has brought the magic to Wicked as Glinda the Good Witch — and even snagged a Golden Globe nomination for her performance. One person who is particularly happy for her is Amanda Seyfried, who also auditioned for the coveted role. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and […]
The second half of Jon M. Chu’s Wicked films might be nearly a year away, but fans got their first major detail about the sequel on Monday (Dec. 16) when Universal Pictures announced its official title. According to a social media teaser, the follow-up to the Nov. 22 live-action musical starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana […]
Ariana Grande and Wicked were very popular among the Golden Globes voters this year, something the 31-year-old singer-actress celebrated with a heartfelt message on her Instagram Stories on Monday (Dec. 9).
Sharing a post highlighting her own best supporting actress nod — which the Golden Globes announced earlier that morning along with the rest of its 2025 nominations — Grande began, “oh my goodness oh my goodness.”
“I am floored and honored to be recognized by members of the @goldenglobes,” she continued. “crying (of course) … It’s impossible to find my words, but I am simply so deeply grateful for this acknowledgement.”
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In addition to the R.E.M. Beauty founder’s recognition in the best supporting actress category — which she shares with Emilia Pérez‘s Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldana, The Brutalist‘s Felicity Jones, The Substance‘s Margaret Qualley and Conclave‘s Isabella Rossellini — Wicked also took home nominations for best motion picture, musical or comedy, and cinematic box office achievement. Co-leading lady Cynthia Erivo is also up for best performance by a female actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy, which Grande shouted out in her post.
“Congratulations to my brilliant, dear sister @cynthiaerivo, and all of our Ozian family on this celebration of our work,” she concluded. “I can’t possibly express my gratitution.”
The first wave of awards recognition comes shortly after Jon M. Chu’s Wicked premiered in theaters on Nov. 22. In the couple of weeks since, the project’s soundtrack album has debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 — the highest ever debut for a big-screen adaptation of a stage musical on the chart — and the film has become the highest grossing movie ever at the domestic box office based on a Broadway musical.
Grande’s performance as Glinda in the film has been specifically recognized by other institutions as well, including the Palm Springs International Film Awards — which is set to award her with the Rising Star Award — and the Astra Awards, which recently crowned her best supporting actress in a tie with Saldana. Of the latter recognition, the “Yes, And?” musician wrote on her Story on Monday, “thank you so so so much for this honor.”
“and yes, @zoesaldana we did it :’) !” she added. “i’m so grateful to share this with you.”
Ariana Grande and The Weeknd couldn’t love each other harder.
The “Blinding Lights” singer sang the praises of his longtime friend and collaborator in a recent post on Instagram Stories, sharing a poster for Wicked — in which the R.E.M. Beauty founder stars opposite Cynthia Erivo — and writing, “this was fantastic.”
“congrats @arianagrande so proud,” The Weeknd added.
Shortly afterward, Grande reposted the The Idol star’s words on her own Story. “thank you, my friend,” she wrote, adding a bubble emoji to emulate Glinda’s famous method of travel in Wicked.
The “Yes, And?” vocalist and The Weeknd have been working together for years, starting with “Love Me Harder” in 2014. Six years later, the Canadian musician jumped on Ari’s Positions track “Off the Table,” while she helped propel his “Save Your Tears” to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 by joining him on a remix.
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In 2023, while Grande was still filming Wicked, she again gave one of The Weeknd’s tracks a lift by adding her magic to “Die for You,” which then shot up to the top of the Hot 100. “Wrote and recorded a verse for my friend after a 14 hour day on set,” she wrote of the project at the time. “This certain exception had to be made….”
The Weeknd is just one of many fans who are loving Wicked. Following its Nov. 22 premiere in theaters worldwide, its soundtrack album opened at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 — the highest ever debut for a big-screen adaptation of a stage musical on the chart — and the film has brought in over $260 million in North America so far, making it the highest grossing movie ever at the domestic box office based on a Broadway musical.
Grande’s performance in the film is also being widely lauded, and the star will soon receive the the Rising Star Award at the Palm Springs International Film Awards. “In Wicked, Ariana Grande’s portrayal of Glinda elevates her to new heights with a powerful acting performance that beautifully combines her outstanding musical talent, brilliant characterization and impeccable comedic timing,” chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi said in a recent statement. “Ariana is an iconic global performer, who has seamlessly transitioned to film in her first major starring role, proving herself to be a multifaceted and undeniable talent.”
Billboard‘s Joe Lynch felt similarly. “Grande is a revelation,” he wrote in his review. “This performance signals the arrival of a formidable cinematic talent with a lot more to show us.”