The Dropout star Amanda Seyfried sat down with Backstage on Tuesday to reflect on her strenuous audition process for Universal’s upcoming adaptation of Broadway musical Wicked.
While in the middle of filming Hulu’s The Dropout, a drama documenting the rise and fall of former Theranos CEO and entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes, Seyfried spent her weekends auditioning for a much different role: Glinda the Good Witch.
Though Seyfried was determined to squeeze Wicked into her busy schedule, the role of Glinda ultimately went to pop star Ariana Grande; the singer will star alongside Cynthia Ervio’s Elphaba. But Seyfried (who previously showcased her singing skills in Mamma Mia and Les Misérables) isn’t discouraged from future musical roles:
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Wicked Adaptation will be in Two Parts: It’s ‘What’s Best for Our Story, Our Show, and Our Fans’
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Originally a hit Broadway musical starring Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, Wicked follows The Wicked Witch of the West (whose real name is Elphaba) and Glinda the Good Witch in the years before the events of The Wizard of Oz.
Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film adaptation of Wicked will be split into two films to expand on the stage show in a number of ways.
Wicked Part 1 is set to premiere sometime in December 2024, with Part 2 expected in December 2025.
