Will There be a Third Wicked Movie? Ariana Grande Says…

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Don’t mourn the Wicked film series just yet.

While promoting the movie Wicked: For Good, Ariana Grande suggested that this film – which covers the second half of the popular Broadway musical – might not be the last we see of her and her co-stars, including Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey.

During an event in Los Angeles on November 15th, the artist jokingly said that, like Cher, she’s sure there will always be a chance for future tours. As she shared in a video on Instagram, she doesn’t believe anyone is permanently retiring.

When questioned about whether her comments meant a third film was in the works, the singer of “No Tears Left to Cry” simply said, “I don’t know.”

Ariana, 32, shared that even if the cast doesn’t film another movie set in Oz, making the film about Elphaba and Glinda created a lasting connection between her and her fellow actors that will stay with them long after the project is finished.

She went on to say that this wasn’t a farewell, and that these characters would always hold a special place in their hearts. They had made a lasting impact on everyone involved, and she expressed deep gratitude for that.

Ariana felt a deep and special connection with Cynthia, 38, believing their bond was natural and destined, both while filming and in real life.

She excitedly shared that doing this with her lifelong sister, Cynthia, was the best experience of her life. She felt it was meant to be with no one else, and expressed deep gratitude for their special connection and what they shared with each other.

And the Harriet actress previously echoed her scene partner’s sentiment.

She told Will Marfuggi of TopMob News in February that while the film initially connected them, it’s not what sustains their bond. “We were fortunate to meet through this project,” she explained, “but our friendship will last even after the film is over. She’s still like a sister to me, and that’s what truly matters.”

The movie Wicked: For Good comes out in theaters on November 21st. In the meantime, we’re sharing behind-the-scenes details about how the first Wicked movie was made.

Ariana Grande, the Grammy-winning singer, is fulfilling a lifelong dream by playing Glinda in the upcoming Wicked movie. She landed the role about twenty years after meeting original Broadway Glinda, Kristin Chenoweth, backstage. Naturally, Ariana turned to Kristin for advice on everything from charming boys 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 filled up all the storage space on her device.

The two Elphabas shared a similarly spellbinding connection. 

Cynthia Erivo explained that she contacted Idina Menzel right away, leaving a voicemail simply to say hello and get in touch.

Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth’s appearance in the two-part Wicked movie wasn’t just a brief, nostalgic visit. While they appeared in the 2024 film, whether they’ll be back for Wicked: For Good in 2025 is another question. Chenoweth told TopMob News that she and Menzel had their special moment, but now it’s time for the new cast to take center stage.

What was the instant 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 talked for about five hours. “We just clicked immediately,” she said. “It felt effortless, like we didn’t even have to try, and that’s been true ever since.”

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

From the moment we met, we both agreed to support each other, and we’ve truly done that through everything we’ve experienced together,” Grande explained.

Despite initial uncertainty about live vocals during filming, Ariana Grande was adamant that she and Cynthia Erivo would sing everything in real time. Erivo agreed, explaining that performing live would create a deeper connection to the lyrics and to each other.

The film’s U.K. location was truly special. Director Chu described it as feeling like the ultimate concert experience, with everyone having a perfect view.

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 musical numbers.

Cynthia Erivo told The New York Times that she tested positive for Covid-19 right before filming ‘Defying Gravity.’ She explained it felt like a sign to pause and recover before starting the shoot.

Ariana Grande shared that she joined the set while still recovering from something, wearing a mask during her last few days of recovery to learn the choreography for the hallway scene.

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 positive myself at that point – I’d already taken the test to find out what was going on.

Ariana Grande says she doesn’t remember initially reacting to a specific moment in her performance. She explained on TikTok that when Cynthia Erivo finished a line during the song, Grande excitedly shouted, “Right!” She first heard it while listening to a studio recording of the live take—before even seeing the movie—and was so startled 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 feelings, even if it meant taking risks. That’s why Cynthia Erivo performed her own stunts, including wire work that made it look like she was flying. “I expected there would be stunts involved,” she explained in a behind-the-scenes look, “and I really wanted to do them myself.”

She explained that it involved “flying with a corset, a harness, and music.” But when everything came together, she said, “it truly felt like magic.”

During the performance of “Popular,” Ariana Grande swung around on a chandelier. However, she wasn’t the performer who almost got hurt.

During the initial run-through, one of the stunt coordinators was there to prevent me from getting seriously injured, I explained on The Tonight Show. He stood calmly in the corner, and I accidentally almost kicked him in the face with my foot. He didn’t even flinch, just took the hit like a champ.

Jonathan Bailey played the role of Fiyero and his performance of “Dancing Through Life” included an elaborate 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 tornado wheel was so dangerous that choreographer Christopher Scott wasn’t even sure Jonathan Bailey would be allowed to participate, citing safety concerns. He explained that they needed to protect Bailey, as he plays Fiyero and they couldn’t risk injuring him.

Rather than using automated systems, they hired a team of engineers to watch the performance and manually adjust the speed to match the dancers’ movements as they jumped, spun, and performed.

Erivo chose to have her skin airbrushed rather than using computer-generated imagery to make it appear green.

In an Instagram video, she described wanting to create a character who felt real and vibrant. She envisioned a woman with green skin that didn’t look flat, but had natural details like freckles, varying tones, and realistic shading. The character’s green eyes were also a key part of her identity, reflecting her inherent nature – something that wasn’t just a surface-level trait, but a fundamental aspect of who she was.

They dubbed her particular shade “Cynthia Green.” 

To create realistic and consistent freckles, Cynthia Erivo had a mold made of her face. They poked tiny holes in the mold, then used it like a stencil to airbrush freckles onto her skin, ensuring they stayed in place. She described the process on The Kelly Clarkson Show in November 2024.

Despite having many piercings, the actress readily agreed to a compromise suggested by the production team instead of hiding them.

Erivo told Elle she has so many piercings that the show used prosthetic ears for filming. She explained, ‘Those aren’t my ears!’ A special effects artist created a shell to cover her pierced ears.

She explained to Elle that painting could take up to four hours, depending on the level of detail – whether it included just her head, chest, and hands, or her entire body.

Ariana Grande, however, described her transformation as much simpler – just a quick change involving a few steps. As she explained on set, she focused on speed. The process included covering her tattoos, carefully putting on a wig, and a makeup routine that ultimately led her to rethink her overall approach to makeup.

She explained the makeup look was subtle, avoiding strong eyeliner or overly dramatic shading. Instead, the focus was on lashes styled in a cat-eye shape—providing a lift similar to her usual look, but feeling more natural and true to the wearer’s features.

Ariana Grande was thrilled to wear Glinda’s famous, fluffy pink gown. She described the outfit as being filled with “pink and fluff” and was amazed by the incredible detail. It took 225 hours to create, with over 20,000 beads sewn on, and she was so impressed she said she almost had a heart attack!

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.

Let me tell you, one of the things I’m really loving right now is this incredible texture designers are creating. It’s all about layering a really finely pleated fabric onto another material, and it gives this beautiful, wavy, almost rippling effect. It’s so subtle, but it adds so much visual interest!

The set designers paid incredible attention to every single detail. For example, the train used to reach the Emerald City actually weighed 16 tons and took two days to move into place. And the beautiful field of tulips in Munchkinland wasn’t created with computer graphics; instead, nine million real tulips were planted across 25 acres in Norfolk to make it bloom authentically.

Chu observed that they carefully built the forest of Oz, making sure to maintain a broad view of the overall landscape rather than getting lost in the details.

As someone who’s spent years creating experiences, I always say it’s the little things that truly make a difference. Seeing a project come to life, especially something built from nothing but sketches and imagination, is honestly incredible. It’s mind-blowing to think about how those initial ideas can transform into something real you can experience today – it’s a testament to the power of creativity and the artistry of special and visual effects.

Knowing Ariana so well, it was such a sweet gesture when Kristin Chenoweth surprised her with custom jackets! Janan Studio did the incredible artwork, and then Haus of Crystals added all the sparkle – they were perfectly matched and just so Ariana.

In December 2024, the Broadway star shared a sweet Instagram post about leading their daughter onto a movie set. They described it as a special ‘passing of the torch’ moment, creating a lasting memory for both of them.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo proved their friendship is truly lasting with matching tattoos that say “for good.” Grande shared on The Kelly Clarkson Show that they intentionally got the tattoos placed on opposite sides of their bodies, so the message connects when they hold hands.

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, explaining that they instantly felt a strong connection with each other.

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2025-11-18 02:20