Wicked: For Good’s Ethan Slater Breaks Down His 20 Days of Prosthetics

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This article contains spoilers for Wicked: For Good.

Ethan Slater‘s transformation in Wicked: For Good is totally metal.

The actor from Gen V, known for playing Boq in Wicked and the recent follow-up film, shared his experience getting ready to play the Tin Man. The transformation involved a lengthy hair and makeup process.

Ethan said on SiriusXM’s The Morning Mash Up on November 18th that it took a significant amount of time – around five hours – the first time they attempted it.

Boq’s transformation into the Tin Man happens because he’s working as a servant for the new governor of Munchkinland, Nessa Rose (Marissa Bode), and longs to be with Glinda (Ariana Grande). When Nessa realizes he doesn’t reciprocate her feelings, she casts a spell to make him lose his heart. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) tries to undo the spell, but can’t fully reverse it, so she transforms him into the Tin Man, allowing him to live without a heart.

 

Although he’s largely recognized as Boq throughout most of the movie, the actor also spent a significant amount of time on set performing as the Tin Man.

As surprising as it may seem, the star of SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical explained that they wore the prosthetic makeup for about 20 days.

It became easier to transform into character over time, largely due to the incredible work of make-up artists Mark Coulier and Frances Hannon, along with their talented team.

He said the whole thing only took about two and a half hours. They really got focused and into the flow of things.

Ethan playfully complained that he could easily fall asleep in the chair while his team worked on his daily makeover. But even after waking up, he was still able to be himself, despite the elaborate costume he was wearing.

He explained that after receiving the prosthetics and looking in the mirror, he appeared completely different, but he was still able to move all his facial muscles. He described them as fantastic.

Just like Nessa and Boq deserve each other, you deserve these Wicked secrets—read on for more.

Ariana Grande, the Grammy-winning singer, is fulfilling a lifelong dream by playing Glinda in the upcoming Wicked movie. She first saw the original Broadway show twenty years ago and met Kristin Chenoweth, who previously played the role. Naturally, Ariana turned to Kristin for advice on how to play Glinda, including tips on everything from flirting to choosing the perfect shoes!

Ariana Grande told Entertainment Weekly that she and Kristin Chenoweth exchanged a lot of video messages during their relationship. Chenoweth joked that they sent so many, she actually ran out of storage space on her devices.

The two Elphabas shared a similarly spellbinding connection. 

Cynthia Erivo said she contacted Idina Menzel right away, leaving a voicemail simply to say hello and reconnect.

Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth’s involvement in the Wicked films wasn’t just a quick appearance – they had a brief role in the 2024 movie. However, when asked if they would return for the 2025 sequel, Wicked: For Good, Chenoweth explained that she and Menzel had their moment, and now it’s time for the new cast to shine.

What was the immediate connection Erivo felt when she first met Grande? It definitely wasn’t dislike. Erivo explained to Deadline in 2024 that they met at her home and spent about five hours talking. “We just clicked right away,” she said. “It felt natural and effortless, and that’s remained true over time.”

And, no doubt, it’s changed each star for the better. 

When we first met, we both agreed to support each other, and we’ve truly kept that promise through everything,” Grande explained.

Director Jon M. Chu wasn’t sure at the beginning of filming how much of the singing would be done live. However, Ariana Grande was adamant that she and Cynthia Erivo would perform all their vocals in real time. Erivo agreed, explaining that singing live helped them connect more deeply with the lyrics and with each other.

The film’s U.K. location was truly special. As director Chu put it, experiencing it felt like being at the greatest concert imaginable, with a perfect view from every angle.

The only real difficulty during filming was that both Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were sick just before they needed to record their most important songs.

Let me tell you, right before filming ‘Defying Gravity,’ I actually came down with Covid. It was a real moment of having to pause and listen to my body – a clear sign that it wasn’t the right time, and I needed to rest up before tackling such a demanding role. It was like a firm ‘not yet’ from the universe!

Let me tell you, filming ‘Popular’ was quite a whirlwind! I actually joined set the week before we started shooting, still recovering from something. I was even wearing a mask on my last days of getting better while learning the choreography for that big hallway finale – talk about jumping right in!

And try out a few jokes. 

I remember being in the dorm room with her, and I playfully sang into her ear, ‘Stay positive, everything will be okay!’ But honestly, I wasn’t feeling optimistic myself – I had already taken the test to find out what was happening.

Ariana Grande says she doesn’t remember initially reacting to a particular moment in her performance. She explained on TikTok that when Cynthia Erivo finished a line in the song, Grande instinctively shouted “Right!” She discovered this reaction while listening to a studio recording of the live take – even before seeing the movie – and was so surprised she immediately called director Jon M. Chu, laughing about it.

Though, added Grande, “For the record, I absolutely do not remember doing this.” 

The lead actors were fully dedicated and willing to trust their gut, even if it meant taking risks. That’s why Erivo performed her own stunts, including wire work that made it look like she was flying. “I expected there would be stunts,” she explained in a behind-the-scenes look, “and I really wanted to do them myself.”

She explained it felt like “flying with a corset, a harness, and songs.” But when everything came together, she said, “it really does feel like magic.”

During the performance of “Popular,” Ariana Grande swung around on a chandelier. However, it was someone else who almost got hurt.

During the first practice run, one of the stunt coordinators had to stand by to prevent me from getting seriously injured, I joked on The Tonight Show. He stood very still and bravely in the corner, and I accidentally almost kicked him in the face with my foot. He didn’t even flinch!

Jonathan Bailey played the role of Fiyero and his performance of “Dancing Through Life” included a unique set piece. It featured three rotating wheels, each with a ladder built into the center.

At nearly 180 feet long, 145 feet wide, and 45 feet high, the set was incredibly risky, Chu admitted to Entertainment Weekly. He explained that even getting insurance for the project was a major challenge.

The stunt was quite dangerous—choreographer Christopher Scott wasn’t even sure Jonathan Bailey would be allowed to perform in the ‘tornado wheel’ due to safety concerns. As Scott explained, they needed to protect Bailey, as he plays Fiyero and they couldn’t risk injuring him.

Rather than relying on automation, they used a team of engineers to carefully watch the performance and adjust the speed in real-time as the dancers moved.

Erivo chose to have her skin airbrushed rather than digitally altered to appear green.

In an Instagram video, she described wanting to create an image that felt real and alive. She envisioned a woman with green skin, not as a flat color, but with realistic texture, freckles, and natural shading. The woman’s green eyes were meant to reflect her inherent nature, suggesting that her unique qualities weren’t just surface-level, but part of who she was at her core.

They dubbed her particular shade “Cynthia Green.” 

To make sure her freckles looked the same in every scene, Cynthia Erivo had a mold made of her face. They poked tiny holes in the mold, then used it like a stencil to airbrush on the freckles, ensuring they wouldn’t rub off. She explained this process during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show in November 2024.

Despite her many piercings, the actress readily agreed to a compromise suggested by the production team instead of trying to hide them.

Erivo told Elle that because she has so many piercings, the show’s makeup team used a special prosthetic to cover her ears—the ears seen on screen weren’t actually hers!

She explained to Elle that painting could take up to four hours, depending on the level of detail – specifically, how much of the figure she included, from the head and chest to the hands and full body.

Ariana Grande, on the other hand, found the transformation process surprisingly simple. As she explained during filming, she could be ready quickly. Getting there involved covering her tattoos, carefully applying a wig, and a makeup routine that ultimately inspired her to rethink her overall approach to makeup.

She explained the makeup look was subtle, avoiding strong eyeliner or dramatic shading. Instead, the focus was on lashes styled in a cat-eye shape – providing a lift similar to her usual style, but with a more natural appearance.

Ariana Grande was thrilled to wear Glinda’s famous, fluffy pink dress. She described it as being covered in “pink and fluff” and was amazed by the incredible detail, noting it took 225 hours and over 20,000 beads to create. She was so impressed, she said she almost had a heart attack from the thoughtfulness put into it.

Elphaba’s costume was carefully designed. Costume designer Paul Tazewell drew inspiration from the textures of mushrooms and fungi, creating a “beautiful pleated dress,” as described by Cynthia Erivo, that felt like velvet with layers of purple and lace.

According to Tazewell, the material is created by layering a finely pleated fabric onto a foundation, which gives it a wavy texture.

The set designers paid incredible attention to every single detail. For example, the train traveling to Emerald City actually weighed 16 tons and took two days to move into position. And the vibrant fields of Munchkinland weren’t created with computer effects – they were real, grown from nine million tulips planted across 25 acres in Norfolk.

As a lifestyle curator, I’ve always admired how the best designs feel both intentional and natural. What struck me about the creation of Oz was how carefully they built that iconic forest – they were so focused on the bigger picture, ensuring they didn’t get lost in the details while still crafting something truly remarkable. It’s a beautiful lesson in balance – seeing the forest and the trees, if you will.

He explained, offering a glimpse behind the scenes, that the success was due to meticulous attention to detail. He was amazed by the entire process – transforming initial sketches, concepts, and a vision into the finished product we see today.

Knowing Ariana Grande well, Kristin Chenoweth had a special surprise for her: custom jackets created by Janan Studio and decorated with crystals by Haus of Crystals.

In December 2024, the Broadway star shared a sweet on-set moment on Instagram, describing leading their daughter as ‘a little physical memento of our ‘passing of the wand.'”

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo proved their close bond with matching tattoos that complete each other. As Grande explained on The Kelly Clarkson Show, they intentionally got the tattoos placed on opposite hands so they touch when they hold hands – a permanent symbol of their friendship, literally ‘for good’.

They also got matching poppy flowers and hearts, and Erivo drew a broom and a hat on her arms.

Erivo told Elle she feels like she’s gained a sister, and that they instantly felt a strong connection with each other.

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2025-11-21 16:21