Cynthia Erivo and Lena Waithe.Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty
Lena Waitheis celebratingCynthia Erivoand her wickedly successful new movie.
AsWicked: Part Onehit theaters this past weekend, Waithe, 40, reposted several photos, clips and articles highlighting Erivo’s acclaimed performance as Elphaba, Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West, in theJon M. Chu-directed stage-to-screen adaptation.
Erivo, 37, has shared behind-the-scenes glimpses of filming the new movie withAriana Grande,Jonathan Bailey,Michelle Yeohand more via social media. Before and after its Nov. 22 release, Waithe added many of those to her Instagram Stories, as well as glowing film reviews and memes.
(Left-right:) Jeff Goldblum, Ariana Grande, Rita Moreno, Cynthia Erivo and Lena Waithe at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures gala on Oct. 19.Stefanie Keenan/Getty
Stefanie Keenan/Getty
Waithe has supported the movie through more than just social media; at its Nov. 9 Los Angeles premiere, she walked the red carpet in shades anda flashy green suitthat would fit right in at the Emerald City. “Tonight we defy gravity,” she captioned an Instagram carousel of shots showing off the outfit.
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Erivo and Waithe have spent time together in the lead-up to thebox office hit’s releaseat various events, including in September at the US Open Tennis Championships alongside Chu and Grande; at theAcademy Museum of Motion Pictures galain October; and at the June 16Tony Awards, where Erivo presented a category withWicked’s Broadway originatorIdina Menzel.
(Left-right:) Idina Menzel, Lena Waithe and Cynthia Erivo at the 77th annual Tony Awards on June 16.Kevin Mazur/Getty
Kevin Mazur/Getty
On her Instagram Stories, Waithe reposted several of thebehind-the-scenes shotsMenzel, 53, recently shared from filming hercameo appearanceinWicked: Part Onewith Broadway costarKristin Chenoweth, plus composer Stephen Schwartz and writer Winnie Holzman.
“The first time I met her was at the Met Gala, which is where all the cool kids go to meet each other,” Waithe toldVarietyin 2020 of meeting Erivo. She and theHarrietOscar nominee, she said at the time, have “just been vibing ever since.”
Wicked: Part Oneis in theaters now, withPart Twoslated for Nov. 26, 2025. Go behind the scenes ofWickedwith PEOPLE’s new special issue, availablehere.
source: people.com