Ariana Grande is getting Oscar buzz for her work in the Wicked movie and she landed the role of Glinda over many other actresses who hoped to play the part.
Four stars have confirmed that they auditioned to play Glinda in Wicked, though we’re pretty sure there were dozens of others who were up for the role as well.
“I think one of the most overlooked facts of the #WickedMovie Casting was that EVERYONE HAD to audition. NO straight offers & they showed up! It was incredibly humbling to witness these actors spill their guts on the floor for this movie,” director Jon M. Churevealed last year. “Cynthia and Ariana EARNED their roles and brought our little audition room to tears multiple times throughout the process. I can’t believe I had the privilege of witnessing the birth of their Elphaba and Galinda. And one day you will too!!”
It was recently revealed that Wicked was almost made into a movie in the 1990s and the casting choices are so interesting!
Amanda Seyfried
Amanda told Backstage, “Last summer while I was playing Elizabeth [Holmes on The Dropout], on the weekends I was auditioning in person to play Glinda in the movie version of Wicked — because I wanted it that much that I was like, ‘You know what? Yeah, I have to play the last scene of The Dropout on Tuesday. I’ll give my Sunday to you.’”
“I literally bent over backwards while playing the hardest role of my life,” she added. “But I think it also taught me how far I’ve come as a singer, which I really wanted to prove. Because ever since Les Miz, I was like, I need to be better. I need to do better. So whatever comes next in terms of musicals, I’m finally prepared.”
Renee Rapp
Renee Rapp is best known for her work in HBO’s The Sex Lives of College Girls and for playing Regina George in Mean Girls on Broadway. She’s reprising that role in the film adaptation of the musical.
During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, she confirmed she auditioned to play Glinda.
“Ariana‘s gonna be… can I cuss? She’s going to be f–king amazing,” she said. “I’m so excited.”
Dove Cameron
Dove chatted with TheWrap about pursuing the role of Glinda and how it was a long audition process.
“I definitely went out for it,” she said. “I know that for everybody who did go out for it, it was a very long process. It was one of the longer processes I’ve been a part of.”
Dove worked with Ariana on Hairspray Live. Also starring in that production was Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the role of Glinda on Broadway!
Dove said, “I’m so excited for Ariana. She’s a genuinely dear friend of mine. We met when we were super young. I think she’s gonna kill it. I think the whole cast is phenomenal head to toe. So, like, as a fan, I’m really, really excited to see it.”
Taylor Louderman
Taylor Louderman is best known for originating the role of Regina George in Mean Girls on Broadway.
She captioned a screenshot of the Deadline casting announcement on Instagram and wrote, “yyyy did I even audition or think I had a chance?!”
“This business…you can’t care too much about any role you’re auditioning for (or you could get hurt & won’t come back) but you have to care enough to give it your all,” she captioned a photo of herself.
“I cared too much this time,” she admitted. “I hope it’s okay that I’m sharing this.”
