Universal's WICKED Films - News & Discussion Thread- Page 8

[JBroadway]

Posted: 11/4/21 at 10:59pm

My first reaction when I saw this news wasn't "I like it" or "I don't like it" For me, the weight of this news is more like....the theatre community/fandom has spent over a decade tossing around ideas for who could play Elphaba and Glinda in the eventual Wicked movie.

After all that time, it's very surreal to actually have real-life casting. 

[sng]

Posted: 11/4/21 at 11:03pm

Issac Powell as Fiyero please!!!!

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 11/4/21 at 11:07pm

You’d think Marc Platt would have learned by now about the age thing . Oh well. I do wish them the best. Universal needs a musical hit.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 11/4/21 at 11:15pm

silent said: "Cynthia played Aretha in the TV series and a singer in Bad Times at the El Royale. “Musically related features.” Anyways, carry on."

Sorry, but a TV show and a non-musical film doesn't count. Moving on...

[Tag]

Posted: 11/4/21 at 11:20pm

Do you think Erivo had casting approval over Grande? (you know after the whole Jennifer Holliday controversy)

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 11/4/21 at 11:23pm

Tag said: "Do you think Erivo had casting approval over Grande? (you know after the whole Jennifer Holliday controversy)"

What controversy ?

[Valentina3]

Posted: 11/4/21 at 11:37pm

Wouldn't mind some Anthony Ramos Fiyero. He would kill the role and I think look the part next to these two actresses. Love the Patinkin Dillamond idea. Now if they can only get Liza to play Morrible, I think I will die happy.

[soulmistin]

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

As both an employee of the show and a fan, this casting makes me want to stab myself in the eyeballs preemptively.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/4/21 at 11:59pm

I've not heard of Ariana being difficult. I've met her at a party - and I'm a nobody - and she introduced herself and was super sweet. 

I just wonder if she'll put her "Signature" sound into Glinda because that won't really work? But I love that she's so into musical theater. 

And it's smart casting with a "legit" actress and a pop star. Should have broad appeal. 

[soulmistin]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:03am

Am I the only one who is more upset at Cynthia Erivo being cast than Ariana Grande?

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:03am

Idina just tweeted congratulations to the two actresses. 

https://twitter.com/idinamenzel/status/1456471249899642881

[Sutton Ross]

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

Thought it was a typo, what horrible casting for Elphaba. She makes it all about her even when she's not IN the production. Disappointing. 

I don't mind Ariana at all. As Elphaba. No, you are not the only person who is upset. What a missed opportunity for a younger, better, less problematic actress. 

Updated On: 11/5/21 at 12:04 AM

[soulmistin]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:10am

Sutton Ross said: "I don't mind Ariana at all. As Elphaba. No, you are not the only person who is upset. What a missed opportunity for a younger, better, less problematic actress."

Exactly. Though Ariana never would’ve been my pick for any role, I can live with that. She’s convincingly young looking and talented, if that’s the box office draw they needed so be it.  When I saw Cynthia’s picture under the news I assumed she was Morrible! What a random choice. There are so many young actresses who could have done an exceptional job and brought the representation people wanted to the film. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:18am

And as discussed to death in the DEH movie thread, actors can be older than their characters on stage, it's not a huge deal. Movies are completely different. One looks SO much older than the other it's just so bizarre. 

[pmensky]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:21am

Sutton Ross said: "And as discussed to death in the DEH movie thread, actors can be older than their characters on stage, it's not a huge deal. Movies are completely different. One looks SO much older than the other it's just so bizarre."

Yeah, the dorm room scenes are going to be weird to say the least.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:59am

Updated On: 11/5/21 at 12:59 AM

[Defying_Reality]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 1:11am

No. I'm so gobsmacked that I have been driven to make my first post on here after lurking for a while. The only thing I am pleased about is that, as an English woman, we have another playing one of the two leads. I could say a lot more but I don't want to be banned after one post.

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 2:28am

Man, this movie is going to suck.

[sherie_worshipper]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 3:13am

With the mediocre Jon M. Chu at the helm I was expecting this movie to be bad, but it’s going to be much, much worse.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 3:19am

The age  aspect is a non issue. Elphaba wasn't sent to college- NESSA ROSE was and as Nessa  is younger than Elphie   ( by anywhere from a year to 5) of course Elphaba stayed back to "care for Nessa'". She's probably been Nessa's caregiver  since  Elphaba was a toddler.

 

Same w Fiyero . He knows about all the best schools he's "been kicked out of most of them". I never saw him as a rebel just some who doesn't give a damn about anything but having a good time. I have a couple of cousins who are the same. It took their father putting them into a dozen different private schools before they finally managed to complete enough course work to graduate high school. It took them almost 7 years to get through the 4years of high school so yeah Glinda would see him as older and worldly and Elphie would probably nearer his age anyway.

 

Let's be honest- we knew that the film was going to be more ethnically diverse. I actually had thought they might have gone the KPOP route as apparently now the big money is no longer in domestic screens but overseas. Those women have huge fan bases like Tayeon or Hyuna. Maybe Chu didn't want to be seen as someone who always casts Asians.. or perhaps he has another role in mind. for someone...

Love the idea of Mandy as Dillamond- he's already got the beard- Maybe Kevin Kline as the Wizard?

Updated On: 11/5/21 at 03:19 AM

[pmensky]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 3:41am

sabrelady said: "The age aspect is a non issue. Elphaba wasn't sent to college- NESSA ROSE was and as Nessa is younger than Elphie ( by anywhere from a year to 5) of course Elphaba stayed back to "care for Nessa'". She's probably been Nessa's caregiver since Elphaba was a toddler.

Same w Fiyero . He knows about all the best schools he's "been kicked out of most of them". I never saw him as a rebel just some who doesn't give a damn about anything but having a good time. I have a couple of cousins who are the same. It took their father putting them into a dozen different private schools before they finally managed to complete enough course work to graduate high school. It took them almost 7 years to get through the 4years of high school so yeah Glinda would see him as older and worldly and Elphie would probably nearer his age anyway.



Let's be honest- we knew that the film was going to be more ethnically diverse. I actually had thought they might have gone the KPOP route as apparently now the big money is no longer in domestic screens but overseas. Those women have huge fan bases like Tayeon orHyuna. Maybe Chu didn't want to be seen as someone who always casts Asians.. or perhaps he has another role in mind. for someone...

Love the idea of Mandy as Dillamond- he's already got the beard- Maybe Kevin Kline as the Wizard?"

Very good catch. They can definitely play up the fact that Elphaba is older and there to take care of Nessa. They’ll have to make the relationship more like an older sister with Glinda, but that can work, too.

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 4:01am

Taylor Louderman confirmed on her Instagram story that she auditioned, although she doesn’t say for which role. She was my dream pick for Glinda. Oh well, it’s always a win when they hire people who can actually sing the score for a movie musical.

[Owen22]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 4:36am

We also forget that these women age during the story. In the book, which I think they will be going back to a little bit (because the second act of the stage musical is really kind of stupid) many years pass between Shiz and the real world. Even on stage, both Glinda and Fiyero have both had to have aged a certain bit to get their prominent political positions. I find it harder to believe Ariana Grande in that portion of her role then Cynthia Erivo as a college student.

[Seb28]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 4:57am

Very disappointing. Glinda is supposed to be a completely different type and requires an excellent actress. And a singer whose strong point is articulation. For Elphaba I would have loved to see someone humble and grounded. I am surprised that someone with such attitude problems is able to get a role like this. I haven't forgotten about the misplaced tantrums to fans, the Comet of 1812 debacle and her very out of line twitter posts. Elphaba should have more layers and also requires a stronger actress, not just someone who revels in the victim role. I have never seen her play other characteristics in a strong or believable way, and the essence of the role of Elphaba is the opposite of that. Also, I think she has a beautiful voice in softer, lighter parts, but her voice-type is wrong for the score of Elphaba. Elphaba requires all the long, loud, straight notes (Wizard and I, No good deed, Defying Gravity), and Erivo always goes to her head voice, cuts notes short or riffs them down or breaks them off. In a way they are both too poppy/soul for this material. Not expecting much of the singing and acting here. Don't have much sympathy for these personalities in these characters either. Not a good start.

[binau]

Posted: 11/5/21 at 4:57am

I am so happy for Cynthia’s involvement. Regardless of her personality or age she will absolutely deliver on the vocals and that is what I will be listening to to the die I die regardless of what happens in and to the movie. Talent is talent.