Ariana Grande Questions Her Casting as Glinda in ‘Wicked’

Known for being transparent about her work, Ariana Grande recently talked about how her casting in ‘Wicked’ first caused her to have some doubts. Grande discussed her sentiments about being offered the job on the ‘Sentimental Men’ podcast, saying she felt anxious and burdened by “preconceived notions” about her abilities and whether she would be a good fit for the Glinda role.

Fans of the original Tony-winning show were especially divided on Ariana Grande’s casting. Grande admitted that, as a fan, she would have felt the same way. Looking back at her previous pop songs, such as ‘Side to Side,’ she said she may have asked herself, “Why the f**k? I’ve been waiting twenty years for this. Kill me.” She knows that her pop music experience can raise doubts about her fit for the position.

Image Courtesy: People

Grande revealed on the show that she decided to put her music career on hold to fully focus on the Universal project. Making the most of this exceptional occasion is crucial, she said, adding, “Every single second counts when something once in a lifetime, like this, happens.”

Grande has extensive acting experience; she has starred in ‘American Horror Story’, ‘Sam and Cat’, ‘Victorious’, and even ‘13: The Musical on Broadway’. The next ‘Wicked’ movie, which is directed by Jon M. Chu and is scheduled for release on 22nd November 2024, also stars Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, and Keala Settle.

–Farheen Ali