OriginalWickedStars Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel Pose with Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo at L.A. Film Premiere

Mar. 15, 2025

Idina Menzel, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Kristin Chenoweth at the ‘Wicked’ premiere in Los Angeles on Nov. 9.Photo:Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Together, they’re unlimited!

Kristin ChenowethandIdina Menzel, who originated theWickedroles of Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, on Broadway, joinedAriana GrandeandCynthia Erivo, who play the parts in the film adaptation, during the movie’s premiere in Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 9.

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Idina Menzel, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Kristin Chenoweth at the ‘Wicked’ premiere in Los Angeles on Nov. 9.Rob Latour/Shutterstock

Rob Latour/Shutterstock

Based on the 2003 Broadway musical of the same name,Wickedtells the emotional origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West, the villain from L. Frank Baum’s 1900 children’s bookThe Wonderful Wizard of Ozand the iconic 1939 movieThe Wizard of Oz.

But before the Wicked Witch was feared all across the land of Oz, she was simply Elphaba Thropp, a reserved and misunderstood young woman who happened to be born with green skin and special powers.

At Shiz University, she meets fellow student Glinda, a bubbly — and yes,popular— aspiring sorceress (and future Good Witch).

Elphaba and Glinda become roommates, then unlikely friends — until outside forces come between them and test their bond.

Newcomer Bode, who plays Elphaba’s younger sister Nessarose, remembers acts of kindness from both Erivo and Grande.

As she said inPEOPLE’s specialWickedissue, Erivo brought home-baked cookies to set, and made vegan and gluten-free varieties “just in case” somebody had dietary needs. “[It] was so sweet that she’s thoughtful,” Bode told PEOPLE.

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To be sure, the leads of the movie didn’t just show up and say their lines. Production designer Nathan Crowley picked Erivo and Grande’s brains about Elphaba and Glinda, which helped him inform his decisions about the set.

As he told PEOPLE, “There were many, many conversations with the actressesto see how they see their charactersand how the props relate to that character.”

Wickedwill be released in two parts, with the first arriving in theaters on Nov. 22.

source: people.com