‘Wicked’ Trailer: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo Sing ‘Popular’ and ‘Defying Gravity’ in New Footage From Two-Part Musical

Rebecca Rubin
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Ozians are putting aside their panic for this one day, to celebrate!

The cause for commotion? Universal finally unveiled the first full-length trailer for its adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical. The dazzling, more than three-minute-long footage finally captures Ariana Grande’s Glinda and Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba singing two of the show’s anthems, “Popular” and “Defying Gravity.”

More from Variety

A prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” “Wicked” recounts the events that happened before Dorothy followed that iconic yellow brick road and Elphaba, ostracized for her green skin, became the Wicked Witch of the West. It tells the story of the unlikely friendship (turned rivalry) of Elphaba and Glinda, who first met as classmates at Shiz University, and asks a central question: “Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?”

In the glittering trailer, Elphaba meets her (blonde!) roommate Glinda and gets gifted her signature black witch hat. Later, as Elphaba comes into her powers, she travels with Glinda to the Emerald City and comes face-to-face with the Wizard (played by Jeff Goldblum). There are also flying monkeys, yellow bricks, silver slippers and plenty of pink and green.

All the while, trouble is brewing in Oz as the Great and Terrible conjures a plan to turn the citizens against Elphaba, who discovers the Wizard has no real magical abilities. “The best way to bring folks together is to give ’em a really good enemy,” the Wizard says. Elphaba later counters: “It’s the Wizard who should be afraid of me.”

Jon M. Chu, the filmmaker of “Crazy Rich Asians” and “In the Heights,” is directing the two-part adaptation. The cast also includes Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University headmaster Madame Morrible, Ethan Slater as Boq and Bowen Yang as Pfannee. The first installment is scheduled for Nov. 27 with the sequel to follow on Dec. 25, 2025.

Prior to the trailer’s debut, Universal unveiled a featurette titled “Passion Project,” in which Chu and his two leading ladies reflected on making the films.

“I had the incredible privilege of seeing the original Broadway cast of ‘Wicked’ when I was 10, and I just felt an immediate bond,” said Grande, who, in getting the part of Glinda, promised, “I’m gonna take such good care of her.”

Erivo tearfully added, “It’s been a really long journey here, and I’m really grateful for it. I never thought in my lifetime that I would get to be part of something like this.”

Best of Variety

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.