Movies Interesting Facts 
Ariana Grande has expressed her understanding of fans’ mixed reactions regarding her casting as Galinda Upland in the highly anticipated film adaptation of ‘Wicked’. (Also read: Ariana Grande says reaction to her Wicked voice change was gender biased: ‘When a male actor does that, it’s appreciated’)
What did Ariana say?
According to Deadline, as a longtime fan of the Broadway musical, Grande acknowledged the significant expectations placed on her and the challenges that came with stepping into such an iconic role. Deadline reported that during a recent appearance on the ‘Sentimental Men’ podcast, Grande talked about the audition process for director Jon M. Chu’s adaptation, emphasizing the pressure of delivering a performance that will resonate with fans .
“Auditioning for ‘Wicked’ was something I really enjoyed,” she said. He further added, “It has to be earned. Anything on this scale, being a part of anything, it’s not given just because they know about a thing. So, people’s perception needs to be reframed.” It’s fun to face the challenge of defining and working to get back to other places.”
More information
Having been involved in musical theater since the age of eight, Grande is aware of the high bar set by fans. “I felt some initial nervousness or preconceived notions about what I would be able to deliver or not be able to do,” she admitted.
Grande also revealed that many fans may not be aware of how extensively she trained to prepare for her role.
Reflecting on the initial skepticism she herself felt as a fan, Grande commented, “Going off ‘Side to Side,’ I probably would have said the same thing. I probably would have said, ‘Why the f–‘” Kill me. I’ve waited 20 years for this.” According to Deadline, I would have said so – as an outside fan who only knows about ‘7 Rings.’
This candid admission highlights his sympathy for the concerns expressed by fans.
Based on the acclaimed Broadway musical, ‘Wicked’ tells the story of Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda as they meet at Schiz University and embark on a life-changing journey with the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum).
Jon M. Chu was announced as the director for the Universal adaptation in 2021, and the first installment of ‘Wicked’ will premiere on November 22, 2024, with the second part following on November 21, 2025.
,With inputs from ANI,
