You may have heard about the famous pop star Ariana Grande and her casting in the new Wicked movie adaptation. It was released on November 22nd, 2024, with her playing the role of Glinda, the protagonist. So grab your popcorn as we dive into the pop star’s role in the pop-ular movie and what led up to it!

Directed by Jon Chu, the movie is an adaptation from the Broadway musical based on Gregory Maguire’s novel. Grande joins Tony-winning actress Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba. The film also features a stunning supporting cast, including Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard.

Grande supposedly saw the auditions and wanted to participate, even though her team discouraged her from it. However, she knew the role had to be earned. Eagerly wanting to be in the film, she joked of going to an “insane asylum” if she wasn’t cast. Initially, the casting team expected to see no-namers due to such open auditions, until they realized how many great actresses wanted to step up for the role. Among these renowned names are Dove Cameron and Reneé Rapp.

After her acceptance, Ariana Grande chose to be named with her full birth name, Ariana Grande-Butera, to erase any links to her singing persona and be known for her other talents. The team behind the movie wanted someone who was able to both sing and act, saying that the musical parts of the film had to be smooth and natural, which made her seem like a great fit.

Ariana originally wanted to play Elphaba, but the director believed her to be a ‘perfect’ fit for Glinda instead. After securing her spot as Glinda, her fellow co-star Cynthia Erivo said “thank goodness” as they congratulated each other. She was not surprised that Ariana made it, suggesting it shouldn’t have been any other actress. On the other hand, Erivo was decently surprised at being selected for her role; she said that black women weren’t usually chosen for it and was glad to see a change. Grande also spoke about change, wanting to move onto acting and to put a hold on music for a bit. She says, “I think I love acting; I love musical theater. Reconnecting with this part of myself … it heals me to do that.”

The Sam & Cat actor said she relates closely to Glinda because they’ve both faced much hardship in their lives, yet they provide their audience with hope for the future. More specifically, she says, “I’ve seen a fair amount of loss and grief and tragedy, and I’ve been close to it. I think [Glinda]’s trying her very best to provide that strength and goodness for others, when … she’s needing that too.” This close connection between the two seems to make her a perfect match for Glinda.

With the widespread recognition of Grande, Erivo, and Chu’s proven directorial skill (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), the Wicked film is expected to be a major cinematic event! Both of the beloved celebrities will have the time of their lives being the iconic good and bad witches.