“The grandest gift”: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo wrap up filming for Wicked
Attention Wicked fans! The highly anticipated two-part movie musical has finally wrapped filming. On 27 January, director John M Chu confirmed the exciting news with a heartwarming Instagram post. “Thank you to the massive crew and cast and @universalpictures pictures for supporting the most ambitious cinematic production I have ever been a part of or, frankly, ever witnessed,” he wrote, alongside black and white photos of the cast and crew. “We built real Munchkinland!
A multi-level Shiz University Campus! I walked and shopped in a real Emerald City and met the actual Wizard head that moved in realtime!” Towards the end of his statement, Chu thanked his talented cast – including Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Johnathan Bailey – for delivering incredible performances, adding that his “jaw has been on the floor” and his “heart in the clouds” since filming began. “Cameras began rolling here in London in November of 2022 and now in January 2024 our principal photography is officially wrapped.
Whew. Exhale,” he added. Erivo echoed similar sentiments in a separate statement, describing the film and her role as Elphaba as a “grand gift.” “I’ve been trying to think of what I’d say when this day finally came, and I’m failing miserably, because honestly there aren’t enough words to fully express what this experience has meant to me, so I’ll leave you with this,” Erivo wrote. “The universe will take things away to make space for the grand gifts it has waiting for us.
THIS moment, this film, these people, this cast, this crew, this director, my Glinda, were the Grandest gift I could ever have asked for, and I am eternally grateful for the chance to bring you This Elphie.” As for Grande, who will be starring as Glinda, the ‘Yes and?’ singer reflected on her Wicked journey across numerous statements, including one Instagram post quoting the musical’s hit song ‘For Good.’ “like a handprint on my heart,” she wrote alongside a photo of her wearing Glinda’s iconic costume.
