Universal's WICKED Films - News & Discussion Thread — Page 7

Cynthia Erivo is inspired casting. I had been hoping for Lady Gaga for years, but Erivo is still a really great pick. This is the role that will launch her into pop culture legend status. She's been doing incredible work building her résumé since The Color Purple with her TV and Oscar-nominated film work, but this will officially cement her legacy for generations to come. She'll deliver the vocals required for the role and based on her performances as Celie on stage and Harriet Tubman on screen, I think it's clear that she can deliver the nuances necessary to show Elphaba's initial vulnerability/awkwardness and eventual strength, power, and fieriness. Absolutely delighted on this front.

Ari is the huge question mark here for me. It's a really smart commercial choice since her fans will flock to theaters to see this, and I do trust her vocal abilities—but Glinda is a significantly bigger role than just being able to provide a good sing. First, can she develop the diction and enunciation skills necessary to nail Glinda's iconic songs? Second, has her acting improved since Hairspray Live? She needs to take us on a huge journey in this. Third (and the dumbest question of them all), can she pull off blonde?! Ha.

ElephantLoveMedley said: "Cynthia Erivo is inspired casting. I had been hoping for Lady Gaga for years, but Erivo is still a really great pick. This is the role that will launch her into pop culture legend status. She's been doing incredible work building her résumé since The Color Purplewith her TV and Oscar-nominated film work, but this will officially cement her legacy for generations to come. She'll deliver the vocals required for the role and based on her performances as Celie on stage and Harriet Tubman on screen, I think it's clear that she can deliver the nuances necessary to show Elphaba's initial vulnerability/awkwardness and eventual strength, power, and fieriness. Absolutely delighted on this front.

Ari is the huge question mark here for me. It's a really smart commercial choice since her fans will flock to theaters to see this, and I do trust her vocal abilities—but Glinda is a significantly bigger role than just being able to provide a good sing. First, can she develop the diction and enunciation skills necessary to nail Glinda's iconic songs? Second, has her acting improved sinceHairspray Live? She needs to take us on a huge journey in this. Third (and the dumbest question of them all), can she pull off blonde?! Ha."

This is absolutely the clearest and most concise reaction. Cynthia is an inspired and admittedly obvious casting choice. No doubts she will be perfect. But Ariana is…so far out of left field. I’ve yet to be impressed with her acting at all, obviously the vocal ability is there. I’m just so curious…

Cynthia really can deliver a GREAT Elphaba

silent said: "Odd pairing. Ariana still looks like a little girl. Erivo in another musical is just as boring as J Hud in another one."

The racism JUMPED out. Phew.

Huh?

BroadwayAndSports said: "So everyone that clowned Ben Platt for being 27 playing 17 will surely clown Cynthia Erivo for being 34 and playing 18….right?"

You mean like 33 year old Idina Menzel did?

silent said: "Simmer down. I am black and I still think it’s boring that producers turn to either one of those two for every musical."

..........wut?

You do realize this is Cynthia's debut in a major Hollywood movie musical right?

https://twitter.com/rosedommu/status/1456445074594693126?s=20

https://twitter.com/TomZohar/status/1456441281333194755?s=20



These are so good. and all the Lea Michele tweets as well.

silent said: "Odd pairing. Ariana still looks like a little girl. Erivo in another musical is just as boring as J Hud in another one. "

No, Ariana doesn't look like a little girl in real life. I took my daughter to her concert in 2019 and she looks her age up close. I think it's her short height that makes that impression. She is a great choice to play Glinda.

pmensky said: "Grande still seems so youthful and still part of the Disney Channel-type age, whereas Errivo has played Harriet Tubman and feels like a grown woman. It’s difficult to imagine them as peers going through school together and falling for the same guy. To me, something feels imbalanced."

Keep in mind that both leads are only college students in the first act of the stage musical. While no exact number of years is specified, a good deal of time passes from the end of Act I to the beginning of Act II. So they’re likely supposed to be somewhat older in the second act.

Musical Master said: "I wonder if Cynthia playing Elphaba means that she is going to be busy and unavailable to play Celie for The Color Purple film adaptation that's also supposed to be in development."

Even though The Color Purple is currently scheduled to be released in December 2023, it’s not known yet when principal photography on that will be taking place. It’s possible for Cynthia to still do that if it doesn’t overlap with Wicked.