Universal's WICKED Films - News & Discussion Thread- Page 10

[PurpleFanta]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 11:35am

I'd love to see Hannah Waddingham as Madame Morrible. It would be fun to see her tower over both Cynthia and Ariana.

[RWPrincess]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:00pm

I'm not surprised about Ariana but was surprised about Cynthia. I think both will handle the material just fine. My biggest concern is the onscreen chemistry as they don't come across as being close in age. 

I'm also hoping that they cast some lesser known Broadway talent for some of the other roles.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:04pm

sng said: "Issac Powell as Fiyero please!!!!"

Not with this casting. Fiyero is not a decade younger. Same with Jordan Fisher, too young looking. 

[Ke3]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:19pm

Quinn Wilson said: "Ke3 said: "I'm surprised that so many people are surprised by Ariana's casting. I thought it was pretty well known she and Dove Cameron have both been circling this role for the past 3/4 years. I always figured it'd go to Ari since, well, international pop star. It's like Beyoncé in Dreamgirls. While I'm sure a better actress auditioned, a star is a star. Now I don't think Wicked really needs stars to sell, but when has that ever stopped a producer from casting one.

On top of feeling she's more right for Glinda, I knew she wouldn't be Elphaba either because they were always going to cast a Black actress in that role. Hollywood never misses an opportunity to be extremely literal and cast a Black person as the oppressed character in a race allegory."

Of course Hollywood should cast a BIPOC actress to play Elphaba. A white actress can play the role obviously, but given that there hasn’t been a black principal Elphaba in any production, and as you said it is a race allegory, it makes complete sense to cast a black actress. I don’t understand your frustration with that."

 

It's wouldn't say it's a frustration. I'm happy to see a Black actress working. It's just so easy as a Black person to predict these things. I wasn't in the room obviously but I'd bet my left shoe that a Black woman was never given serious consideration for the role of Glinda. Hell Cynthia is a trained legit soprano, but I'm sure they only asked her to come in for the Elphaba auditions. 

 

Also the fact that there's never been a Black actress who played Elphaba full time is part of what makes me roll my eyes at things like this. I can already hear the press tour narrative about how "Wicked has always been about being different and blah blah blah", and praising themselves for being diverse. Meanwhile we have 17 years worth of history that shows they've never cared about casting a Black woman before. But hell I'm also a hypocrite for bringing any of this up since as an Ariana fan I'll be there opening weekend. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Quinn Wilson]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:22pm

Nolan LuPone said: "Quinn Wilson said: "Of course Hollywood should cast a BIPOC actress to play Elphaba. A white actress can play the role obviously, but given that there hasn’t been a black principal Elphaba in any production, and as you said it is a race allegory, it makes complete sense to cast a black actress. I don’t understand your frustration with that."

Alexia Khadime"

You are correct, unfortunately she is the only one 

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:30pm

Here's the deadline announcement from yesterday. I'm just posting so you can see the comments at the end...for what they're worth.

https://deadline.com/2021/11/ariana-grande-cynthia-erivo-to-star-in-universals-musical-wicked-1234868595/#comments

[Tag]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:37pm

The more I think about it, the more this is shaping up to be the next Cats.
Almost everyone involved has a bad track record as of late.

[jlindsey865]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:49pm

Here are my thoughts:

Ariana - I do think she has the potential to vocally excell in the part. I really hope she will consider taking some vocal lessons (which I assume she will) and use her musical theatre as an anchor when approaching this role. My fear is that she will default to her pop “technique” which we be totally inappropriate for this role. I have yet to see her in a role that proves she is a good actress, but I believe with the right person coaching her, she could turn in a solid performance. Is Chu the right person for that? Not sure.

Cynthia - She will nail the score. I have not cared for any of her film/TV performances. I truly hope she is able to deliver a stellar performance because this role will be a career-defining moment for her - either positively or negatively.

I would have never guessed that these two would be paired together in these roles.  Each one makes sense to certain degree separately, but I question what their chemistry will be like.  The chemistry between the two witches is such an integral part.  The chemistry between Idina and Kristin elevated the mediocre book of the musical to be a blockbuster hit.  While I don’t hate the casting choices for the film, I am hesitant to be excited about them.

Updated On: 11/5/21 at 12:49 PM

[East Village]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:52pm

My grandmother thought she could play Elphaba. I guess I shouldn’t have discouraged her

[jbroadway4]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 2:14pm

I do think Ariana sounds very Broadway-ey (for lack of a better term) here:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7TarriXFME

[binau]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 3:15pm

I guess I say it for everything but I’d love to see Bernadette Peters as morrible. Her voice would sound so nice in the opening lines of ‘Wizard and I’. Youllll be makinggg gooooooooooood.

[jbroadway4]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 3:34pm

binau said: "I guess I say it for everything but I’d love to see Bernadette Peters as morrible. Her voice would sound so nice in the opening lines of ‘Wizard and I’. Youllll be makinggg gooooooooooood."

Yes, PLEASE. Bernadette or Patti. Though I have a feeling it could be Idina or Kristin, with the other as Elphaba's mom in the flashbacks.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 3:50pm

*sigh*. I’m really disappointed that people are judging this casting when they haven’t even gone into rehearsals yet? When the only thing that we know is casting and no one on this board even works on the movie, so how can anyone know how these ladies will do in the roles? Be positive. Have some faith. Give them a goddamn chance.

Also, let it go about Dove Cameron. It’s not like there aren’t productions all over the world, and what if she went to one of those? The West End, tour, Broadway…also did she even want the role or was it just fan dream casting? Just saying. Give them a chance.

[pmensky]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 4:25pm

hearthemsing22 said: "*sigh*. I’m really disappointed that people are judging this casting when they haven’t even gone into rehearsals yet? When the only thing that we know is casting and no one on this board even works on the movie, so how can anyone know how these ladies will do in the roles? Be positive. Have some faith. Give them a goddamn chance.

Also, let it go about Dove Cameron. It’s not like there aren’t productions all over the world, and what if she went to one of those? The West End, tour, Broadway…also did she even want the role or was it just fan dream casting? Just saying. Give them a chance."

It is normal and acceptable for human beings to form opinions about people, places and things based on their previous experiences with them. Message boards are places for people to exchange opinions and ideas. Your attempt to chastise and silence people for doing exactly what they’re meant to do here is inappropriate and unappreciated. 

[Luminaire2]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 4:28pm

So we all agree that:

Sentimental Man and Wonderful or for sure cut.

I could see them possibly removing What is this Feeling or working it as a book scene (although I actually really love that song).

The new original song… do we think Elphaba gets a new song? Glinda? A new duet?

Hmmmm.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 4:43pm

 

[Valentina3]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 4:46pm

This may just be wishful thinking, but I'm also just realizing this and am very glad that they cast actors who're both quite solid in terms of popularity. Because I really think the story works best if Galinda is not treated as a supporting role, which is the impression a lot of people have because Idina won and Defying Gravity is the one big number everyone knows. I feel this movie could potentially have treated Elphaba as a central lead character if it was, say, Dove Cameron playing it opposite Erivo.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 4:47pm

 

[cLo7]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 5:06pm

I wasn't sure how I felt about this casting right away, but after taking some time, I think I could really see these two working well together.  They are actually both quite petite and they both have a similar flexibility in their voices.  I think they will really sound beautiful together.

I'm still not sold on Ariana's acting abilities...but she has the original Galinda on her side who is surely giving her tons of advice.  Along with hearing about their "bootcamps", I'm not going to question it until I see it.

I'm excited to see what the tone of the film is!  Will they go theatrical like the stage show?  Or are they going to take this to a new place?  I can picture some darker, moody vibes...

 

[JRH182]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 5:43pm

Mike Barrett said: "Elphaba is a more conservative/quiet and reserved person in act 1, Cynthia will play into that well possibly then burst at DG.

The age thing is a concern, but with the green, and any CGI possibly used, then I’d say Cynthia is inspired casting.

Anthony Ramos for Fiyero please."

Looks like Jesse Tyler Ferguson has been enjoying this thread. 
https://twitter.com/jessetyler/status/1456725541810151425

*updated to hyperlink the URL

Updated On: 11/5/21 at 05:43 PM

[JRH182]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 5:48pm

bwayobsessed said: "After sleeping on it, if they can convince Ariana to sing like she’s in a musical and not what she did in Hairspray it could be okay."

https://twitter.com/jessetyler/status/1456725060689924101

[JRH182]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 5:49pm

adotburr said: "I’m going to be honest here and say I’m not familiar with any of their work, both Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. I’ve seen bits and pieces but that’s it. I can’t comment on if they fit the casting or anything but I’m generally curious to see what they bring to the film and how they do."

https://twitter.com/jessetyler/status/1456724733140025349

Updated On: 11/5/21 at 05:49 PM

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 6:32pm

Idina and Kristin have both given their reactions to the casting.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Idina-Menzel-and-Kristin-Chenoweth-React-to-WICKED-Film-Casting-News-20211105

[Alessio2]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 6:44pm

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Kristin Chenoweth as a contender for Morrible.  She would be perfect, and I would love to see Idina as Elphaba's mom in the flashbacks!

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 8:01pm

pmensky said: "hearthemsing22 said: "*sigh*. I’m really disappointed that people are judging this casting when they haven’t even gone into rehearsals yet? When the only thing that we know is casting and no one on this board even works on the movie, so how can anyone know how these ladies will do in the roles? Be positive. Have some faith. Give them a goddamn chance.

Also, let it go about Dove Cameron. It’s not like there aren’t productions all over the world, and what if she went to one of those? The West End, tour, Broadway…also did she even want the role or was it just fan dream casting? Just saying. Give them a chance."

It is normal and acceptable for human beings to form opinions about people, places and things based on their previous experiences with them. Message boards are places for people to exchange opinions and ideas. Your attempt to chastise and silence people for doing exactly what they’re meant to do here is inappropriate and unappreciated."

Oh please. There are people saying a lot worse things than I am. Your comment is unappreciated. If you disagree, you can disagree but you don’t have to directly say my comments are inappropriate-which they are not. I’m entitled to comment on here without being told my comments aren’t appropriate or are unappreciated. Stop acting so superior. Thanks!