Ariana Grande revealed she was particular about any changes made to the film. For her, alterations had to serve a clear emotional or narrative purpose.
Ariana Grande added that Glinda’s character has a distinct rhythm. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
Ariana Grande is fully committed to her role as Glinda in the upcoming Wicked film. The singer-actress recently spoke about her dedication during a conversation with Billie Eilish at an FYC event at the DGA Theater. Grande, a longtime fan of Wicked, admitted she felt a strong responsibility to honour the original musical. “I felt like a protective nerd, like the gatekeeping fan girl in the room,” she said, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Ariana revealed that she was particular about any changes made to the film. For her, alterations had to serve a clear emotional or narrative purpose. “I’m somewhat of a purist when it comes to making musical changes,” she explained. “It has to have an emotional attachment or some sort of believable intention behind it.”
One such change involved a rough early version of Popular, one of Glinda’s signature songs. According to Grande, the initial mix featured hip-hop drums. She felt strongly that this did not fit Glinda’s bubbly personality. However, she wanted to express her concerns respectfully.
“Stephen Schwartz shared that there was a version of Popular in the very beginning that had hip-hop drums in it,” she recalled. “I was like, ‘How do I have this conversation in the most loving, respectful way?’ I was like, ‘This cannot happen.’”
She added that Glinda’s character has a distinct rhythm that wouldn’t work with a drum-heavy beat. “Everybody, there’s a time and place, and it’s not with Glinda because she claps on one and three, and that’s OK,” she joked.
Throughout the event, Grande and Eilish shared a mutual admiration. Eilish, a longtime fan, revealed that she had followed Grande for years. “I used to comment on your interviews on YouTube,” she confessed, proudly calling herself “Team Ari.”
The revelation made both Grande and the audience burst into laughter. Grande was touched by Eilish’s words, making for a heartwarming moment between the two stars.
Wicked, starring Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, is set to be released in two parts. The first installment was released on November 27, 2024.
