Directed by John M. Chu and written by both Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, “Wicked: 1” is the first of a two-part film that was adapted from the stage musical “Wicked” written by Stephen Schwartz. This broadway show and new major motion picture is loosely based on L. Frank Baum’s 1900 “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and its 1939 film adaptation. “Wicked: 1” stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp and Ariana Grande-Butera as Galinda Upland. Both Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are multi-faceted: they both take their talents to singing, writing, and acting.
Ariana Grande is a pop icon and influential figure in the music industry. She is widely known for her four-octave vocal range which extends into the whistle register. Some of Ariana Grande’s most iconic songs include “Positions,” “7 Rings,” and “Bang Bang.” In the song “Bang Bang,” Ariana Grande partnered with both Nicki Minaj and Jessie J. In the movie industry, she has been a part of productions like “Don’t Look Up,” “MIB International,” and “Zoolander 2.” Some of her most noteworthy tv shows include “Victorious” and “Sam & Cat.”
Cynthia Erivo is a British actress and singer. She has starred in multiple films such as playing Harriet Tubman in the movie “Harriet,” as well as “Bad Times at the El Royale,” “The Outsider,” “Pinocchio,” “Luther: The Fallen Son,” and “Drift.” She initially gained recognition for starring in the Broadway revival of “The Color Purple” from the years 2015 to 2017. In a recent interview with journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist, she explains how fans are responding in a positive way to the “Defying Gravity” song. Gilchrist includes, “I’ve seen this week people are taking the lyrics for ‘Defying Gravity’ and really holding space with that and feeling power in that.”
Erivo surprisingly responds with, “I didn’t know that was happening.”
“I’ve seen it, yeah,” Gilchrist answers.
“That’s really powerful,” Erivo says with a soft tone. “That’s what I wanted.”
After a short, awkward pause in the conversation, Erivo states, “I didn’t know that was happening.”
Finally, Gilchrist adds, “I’ve seen it on a couple of posts.”
That interview broke the media at the abstraction of the interview.
Since its release, Universal’s film has grossed $262.4 million domestically. This film is currently ranked 89% on rotten tomatoes— which is incredibly good. Be sure to check out the new Wicked film in theaters because the tickets are selling out!
