Amanda Seyfried attends the Lancome X Louvre photocall in Paris, France on September 26, 2023. Ariana Grande portrays Glinda in the 2024 production of ‘Wicked’, while Cynthia Erivo takes on the role of Elphaba in the same adaptation. Cristin Milioti is seen at the 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards on February 07, 2025 in Santa Monica, California.
The highly anticipated film adaptation of Wicked, based on the hit Broadway musical and Gregory Maguire’s novel, premiered its first part in November 2024, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Glinda and Elphaba. The second part is scheduled to debut on Nov. 21, 2025. Director Jon M. Chu initially aimed to cast lesser-known actors for the lead roles but ultimately chose Grande and Erivo.
Amanda Seyfried, amidst filming The Dropout, also auditioned for Wicked, revealing that the intense process prepared her for future musical opportunities. Joining the list of hopefuls, Dove Cameron expressed her longtime desire to play Glinda, calling it the “role of a lifetime.” Cameron disclosed in 2023 that she was part of the audition process, although she did not specify the role she was considered for.
Renée Rapp attended the 2025 American Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2025, where she expressed her excitement for Ariana Grande taking on the role of Glinda instead of her. Despite auditioning for Glinda, Grande revealed in November 2024 on the Sentimental Men podcast that she also tried out for Elphaba, having a preference for the former role. Similarly, Cristin Milioti, known for her roles in dramas like The Penguin and Fargo, showcased her singing talent by winning a Grammy for her performance in Once. She faced challenges during her audition for Elphaba due to the iconic high note in “Defying Gravity.” Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, from The Color Purple, shared her emotional journey auditioning for Elphaba in a YouTube video in May 2024. She highlighted her personal connection to the character and the struggles she faced growing up. While she didn’t secure the role, she praised Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal. Jonathan Bailey was featured as Fiyero in ‘Wicked’ in 2024, and Nick Jonas revealed in September 2024 that both he and his brother Joe had auditioned for the same role in the musical.
During the auditions, Shepard was told by an expert that he and Nick supported each other. Joe encouraged him by saying, “Go in there and kill it. It has to be one of us.” However, neither of the Jonas brothers received a callback, and the role went to Jonathan Bailey. Ryan McCartan, known for playing Fiyero on Broadway, shared on his podcast that he auditioned for the film adaptation but was not cast by Jon M. Chu. Similarly, singer Spencer Sutherland revealed on a show that he had a double callback for the role of Fiyero but eventually did not land it.
