Cast as Elphaba in Jon M. Chu’s upcoming Wicked film adaptations is Cynthia Erivo. Erivo has stated that her performance of “Defying Gravity” will be “natural,” which is appropriate given the character’s green complexion. Erivo recently discussed her ambitions to put her personal touch on Elphaba’s signature song during an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
For the song written by Stephen Schwartz for the Broadway show, “there’s the desire to push and to do too much with it,” she added. While Idina Menzel “belted” out the notes of the challenging song when she first sang it on Broadway in 2003, Erivo plans to sing from the heart. I listened to it and sang it. “I just kind of let things happen,” she explained.
Erivo’s interpretation of the first film’s closing song is informed by her appreciation for Schwartz’s score. Erivo said her “approach will try to transmit the spirit of the song as much as [she] can,” and she praised the composer for crafting something “truly wonderful.” She continued, saying that she interprets the song as “a piece about not being held back from the greatness that a person has within themselves and allowing themselves to soar beyond their own ideas or beyond their own possible wishes and become as great as they’re meant to be.”
The actress, who currently stars in Disney’s live-action remake of Pinocchio as The Blue Fairy, added, “whatever comes out of my mouth, hopefully, will communicate that.” For the audience, this may mean hearing a mash-up of Erivo’s raw essence and the various interpretations of Schwartz’s song that have come before. Director Chu will back Erivo up no matter how she approaches the song. In a Twitter post announcing the creation of two Wicked movies, he stated, “Cynthia, Ariana, and I—and all of the cast and crew—pledge to deliver nothing less than an experience that honours its basis for all the fans who’ve longed for this movie.”
The statement continued by saying they will “provide a fascinating, magical universe full of vibrant people that welcomes in those who are unfamiliar.” Even though Chu considered cutting a number of songs from the original production, he ultimately decided that splitting the Wizard of Oz-inspired musical into two movies was the best option. He said, “As we tried to cut songs or trim characters, those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material that has entertained us all for so many years…. we can tell the story of Wicked as it was meant to be told while bringing even more depth and surprise to the journeys for these beloved characters.”
That means audiences will get to hear Erivo’s unique take on the song. It’s true that Erivo’s performance in “Defying Gravity” will serve as the climax of the first film, setting up the events of the sequel. Both films, titled Wicked, will be released on December 25, 2024 and December 25, 2025, and will explore the origins of the iconic “Bad Witch” and “Good Witch” from The Wizard of Oz via the relationship of its youthful protagonists, Elphaba and Glinda. The film will mirror the style of the Broadway musical, which was adapted from Gregory Maguire’s novel of the same name.
Ariana Grande, who knocked out Amanda Seyfried in the audition for the role of Elphaba’s vivacious roommate Glinda, will co-star with Erivo. The original theatrical book was written by Winnie Holzman, and Marc Platt is producing the show with Chu. After delays due to the coronavirus outbreak, filming for the Universal picture has begun in England. On December 25, 2024, cinemas will show the first Wicked film.