39 Years Ago Today, a Wicked Fan-Favorite Was Born (But Her Best Movie Is an Underrated 2018 Thriller)

by

The upcoming Wicked films are highly anticipated events, but the story of Oz has captured audiences for 39 years. Many famous actors have played roles in various Oz adaptations, including the 1939 classic, The Wiz (1978), and Oz the Great and Powerful (2013). One actor, in particular, is a major star across all these films, even though Wicked isn’t considered her most memorable role.

Cynthia Erivo, born in Stockwell, London on January 8, 1987, is celebrating her 39th birthday today. She began her career on stage, performing in productions such as The Color Purple and Sister Act. After gaining recognition on Broadway, Erivo transitioned to television with a role in the 2015 series Chewing Gum, followed by appearances in shows like Mr Selfridge, Broad City, and The Boss Baby: Back in Business. While the Wicked films are excellent and highlight Erivo’s talents, her best film role is arguably in the 2018 movie Bad Times at the El Royale. Directed by Drew Goddard, the film centers around seven strangers whose paths cross at a hotel, leading to a tense and dramatic night.

Bad Times at the El Royale Deserves Way More Attention

Despite only being in her second film, Bad Times…, Cynthia Erivo truly shines. She’s captivating in every scene and almost completely steals the show. A standout moment is her powerful monologue near the end, which really demonstrates her incredible talent. This is especially remarkable considering she acted alongside established stars like Chris Hemsworth, Jeff Bridges, Dakota Johnson, and Jon Hamm.

Cynthia Erivo’s breakout roles in Bad Times at the El Royale and Harriet really put her on the map, ultimately leading to her casting in Wicked. In fact, Bad Times at the El Royale was likely crucial to landing the Wicked role, making it a must-see for her fans. Despite being a great film, it didn’t perform well at the box office—earning only $31.8 million against a $32 million budget—so many people heading to see Wicked may have missed it.

What’s Next For Cynthia Erivo After Wicked: For Good

Cynthia Erivo is keeping busy after her role in the upcoming movie Wicked: For Good in 2025, with several projects already lined up. One of her next films is Children of Blood and Bone, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. This fantasy movie tells the story of a princess who finds a magical scroll that can restore magic to a group who lost it over ten years ago. It’s currently scheduled to be released on January 15, 2027.

Cynthia Erivo will next lend her voice to the animated musical fantasy film Bad Fairies. Directed by Megan Nicole Dong and produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, the movie tells the story of a group of fairies causing mischief in London.

Cynthia Erivo has also committed to two upcoming films that haven’t announced release dates yet. The first is an action thriller called Karoshi, directed by Takashi Doscher. Details about the movie are scarce, but it will star Erivo alongside Teo Yoo, Isabel May, Takehiro Hira, Giancarlo Esposito, and Bill Camp.

Cynthia Erivo’s next project is a film called Prima Facie, adapted from the stage play. It tells the story of a lawyer who is sexually assaulted by a coworker and forced to confront the flaws in the legal system as she navigates the aftermath. Susanna White, known for directing Nanny McPhee Returns and episodes of series like Andor, Boardwalk Empire, and The Deuce, will direct the film.

Cynthia Erivo is incredibly busy following the huge success of the Wicked films. It’s notable that she’s now choosing projects that are on a smaller scale, but this actually makes her career path even more promising and interesting to watch.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/list/7-thrillers-so-tense-youll-barely-get-through-them/embed/#

Read More

2026-01-09 00:40