The bond between Glinda and Elphaba comes to life in the much-anticipated film adaptation of “Wicked,” with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo capturing the heart of their characters. Together, they share a transformative journey in this retelling of a classic tale.

Finding the Perfect Glinda and Elphaba

The casting process for Wicked was anything but ordinary. For director Jon M. Chu and his team, finding the right actresses to embody Glinda and Elphaba wasn’t just about talent; it was about discovering a unique connection. In a memorable gathering at Chu’s home, Grande and Erivo performed an impromptu rendition of the iconic song “For Good.” As Chu recalls, “Stephen went to the piano and said to Cynthia and Ari, ‘Shall we sing, ‘For Good’?” Chu says. “Cynthia and Ari didn’t rehearse it. They’d never done it together. They sang it, and my four-year-old daughter’s jaw dropped to the floor. No one has ever seen two powerhouses like this before. It’s been beautiful to see how well connected they are.”

Ariana Grande’s Deep Connection to Glinda

Grande’s path to becoming Glinda was a decade-long dream. “I had been chasing producer Marc Platt down for about ten years, wondering when this movie was going to happen and when I would have the opportunity to audition,” she shares. For Grande, embodying Glinda became a personal journey. “Spending this time with Glinda has been a profound journey of self-discovery and healing for me,” Grande reflects. “It’s remarkable how embodying her character and embracing self-trust has brought about such personal growth.”

Her preparation was rigorous, involving vocal retraining with her coach, Eric Vetro. I had to retrain my voice to sing more classically and operatically, which is my range but a style I hadn’t done since I was much younger. It takes the chords a while to reacclimate, like any other muscle, which requires a lot of training.”

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba: The Power of Resilience

As soon as Erivo auditioned, the production team knew they had found their Elphaba. An Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, and Tony winner, Erivo’s portrayal brought a fierce vulnerability to the iconic character. “To have Cynthia Erivo, a woman of color, play a woman who is green makes all the world of difference,” Chu says. “When she sang ‘Defying Gravity,’ she blew the roof off. We were stunned. As soon as Cynthia left the room, we said, ‘our search is finally done.’”

Erivo’s dedication was clear in her training and her approach to the role. She says, “I hope that this joy keeps growing. I hope we find something to spark joy in every day. This was a long process, and I knew that it would get hard sometimes. But I knew, even on those days, that we would find something that makes us love and reconnect to what brought us here.”

A Lasting Bond Through Ink and Memories

As a symbol of their journey together, Grande and Erivo got matching tattoos. “We got tattoos together,” Grande says. “I got an ‘E’ for Elphaba in a heart on the back of my leg and she had a little ‘G’ for Glinda on the back of hers.” Erivo says that their bond is anchored by a sense of joyful exploration. “I hope that we don’t lose our love of play,” Erivo says. “That’s something that I really enjoyed—this need to keep wanting to learn and discover. Ariana and I used that to make these beings as humane and full as possible. When we worked together, something special happened.”

Don’t Miss “Wicked” in Cinemas

Wicked opens in Philippine cinemas on November 20. Reserve your seats and join Universal Pictures PH for the latest updates on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.