Warning: This story contains spoilers for Wicked Did you spot some familiar faces in the Emerald City? Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were joined onscreen by two very special actors for a memorable scene at the end of the film.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande discuss how the musicality of their characters' songs in Wicked influence the storyline and the feel of the film.

Any trip to Oz requires top-of-the-line craftsmanship, so a big shout-out to the sparkling cinematography of Alice Brooks, costume design of Paul Tazewell, production design of Nathan Crowley and the dazzling choreography of Christopher Scott. John Powell’s thrilling musical score, blending with Schwartz’s iconic tunes, is note-perfect.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande play Elphaba and Glinda in "Wicked." Credit: Universal Pictures While the performances in the film are sensational overall, Chu makes a series of downright confounding choices that undercut the rapturous flow of the Broadway production and even the perspective of the story he aims to exalt.

My excitement quickly turned to skepticism when it was announced in 2021 that pop megastar Ariana Grande had be cast as Glinda — alongside the wildly talented, Tony-award winning actress and singer Cynthia Erivo.

Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum also star in Jon M. Chu's 'Wizard of Oz'-inspired fantasy, based on the $1.7 billion Broadway blockbuster.

It's the ultimate celebrity redemption tour, two decades in the making. In the annals of pop culture, few characters have undergone an image makeover quite like the Wicked Witch of the West.