Excuse us a moment because we need to pick our jaws up off the floor. We have your first look at Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in Wicked: For Good. And even though summer just started, we can’t wait for November.

On June 3, 2025, DiscussingFilm shared the dazzling first official images of the stars in their magical roles from the much-anticipated sequel Wicked: For Good. Fans are already losing it. The tweet racked up over 120K views in mere hours—and for good reason.

Ariana Grande, playing Glinda the Good Witch, stuns in a shimmering pastel gown, complete with ethereal puff sleeves and an ornate crown, holding a sparkling wand with regal poise.

Meanwhile, Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba returns with striking green skin, long, dark hair, a dramatic black witch’s hat, and fierce emerald nails, radiating power and intensity.

“Wicked for Good”: First Look

Wicked: For Good is the highly anticipated second installment in the Wicked film saga, based on the hit Broadway musical and Gregory Maguire’s novel. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the sequel follows the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda as they navigate the political, magical, and emotional fallout after the events of the first film.

With spellbinding visuals and emotional storytelling, Wicked: For Good is expected to dig deeper into the characters’ destinies, relationships, and the line between good and evil.

Mark your calendars: Wicked: For Good hits theaters on November 21, 2025. But if you can’t wait that long, you’re in luck—the official trailer drops tomorrow, June 4.

Why This Sequel Matters

The new image contrasts Glinda and Elphaba, perfectly capturing the duality. Grande floats against a whimsical lavender backdrop, her expression confident and full of glamor. Meanwhile, Erivo’s intense gaze and strong posture hint at the internal strength and conflict her character carries. It’s a stunning visual promise of the emotional weight and spectacle to come.

The first film, Wicked, was a monumental success. It grossed nearly $1 billion globally and dominated both the box office and the awards season. Critics praised the powerhouse performances of Erivo and Grande. The lush production design and the faithful yet fresh take on the beloved musical also earned accolades. It reinvigorated the movie musical genre, attracting longtime fans and newcomers.

The Wicked musical itself is one of Broadway’s most successful productions of all time. Since its debut in 2003, it’s won three Tony Awards, a Grammy, and played to sold-out audiences worldwide. The transition to film was always a high-stakes move, but the success of Part One proved the demand is stronger than ever.

Stay tuned for the trailer

The hype is real, and with the Wicked: For Good first look, it’s just getting started. Universal Pictures will release the full Wicked: For Good trailer on June 4, setting the tone for what’s sure to be one of the biggest cinematic events of the year.

Stay tuned and don’t miss it—because this holiday season, the land of Oz is taking over the big screen once again.

At CinemaCon 2025, the much-awaited follow-up to last year’s huge hit, Wicked, was the main attraction. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who are playing Glinda and Elphaba again, gave fans their first look at Wicked: For Good during Universal Pictures’ event at Caesars Palace. The studio was celebrating the massive success of the first movie, and this presentation gave everyone a small preview of what was coming next—both for the characters and the actors themselves.

As reported by People, the teaser shown at CinemaCon had a lot of exciting moments for fans. Most importantly, it revealed Dorothy for the first time, though her face wasn’t shown. There were also classic Wizard of Oz elements like the yellow brick road and the Emerald City, which suggested the movie would stay true to the original story while still telling something new.

Scenes of Erivo’s Elphaba singing No Good Deed and Grande’s Glinda performing For Good were included, proving that the sequel will have just as much music and spectacle as the first film. The teaser ended with Elphaba’s famous line, “I’m off to see the Wizard,” making it clear where the story is headed.

Wicked Actresses forgive the audience

Besides the new footage, the two actresses talked about how emotional they got during the Wicked press tour in 2024—a moment that spread quickly online. While they’re excited about the new round of promotions, Grande and Erivo joked that this time, there would be “less crying.” Erivo said, “We can’t wait to get back on the road again… And I promise less waterworks this time, but I’m not sure we can live up to that.”

“Yes, we already have our tissues packed,” Grande added as Erivo continued… but you’ve seen it, so you get it, right? You cried,” Grande added, to laughter from the audience. “You cried. Don’t lie. We know. We saw,” Erivo said. “And we thank you and forgive you for the hard time you gave us for doing it.”

Wicked: For Good picks up right where the first movie left off. Director Jon M. Chu confirmed that the sequel will deal with the fallout of the choices Elphaba and Glinda made before. The teaser hinted that their friendship would grow stronger, with scenes of Glinda warning Elphaba and others and suggesting a coming conflict.

Elphaba’s exile and Glinda’s search for what it really means to be good were key parts of the presentation. Most of the original cast is returning, including Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Ethan Slater, and Michelle Yeoh, so fans can expect the same world but with new developments. Wicked: For Good, directed by Chu and written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, will be in theaters on November 21, 2025.

The (magic) dust has barely settled on Wicked and we’re already gearing up for its sequel, but the two leading stars have revealed opposing opinions ahead of Wicked: For Good. 

In case you missed it, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande recently appeared at the annual CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas to promote For Good, the second installment of the movie adaptation of Wicked. The sequel closed out Universal Pictures’ overall presentation at the convention, and Glinda and Elphaba themselves were there to debut footage from the film ahead of its November release. 

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are now on the #CinemaCon stage to present ‘WICKED: FOR GOOD’ pic.twitter.com/eKetNsmYSx

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 3, 2025

Before showing off the footage — which reportedly included snippets of the song “No Good Deed” (gasp!) and clips of the two witches’ long-awaited reunion (double gasp!) — Erivo and Grande greeted audiences to inform them of what’s in store. While the two actresses have become notoriously close over the course of filming the project (to the point of spawning countless memes), they did speak of one key difference in opinion. 

“I promise less water works this time,” Erivo said, in reference to the pair’s tearful (and hilariously viral) press tour while promoting Wicked last year. Grande, however, appeared to rebuff the suggestion that she would go without crying, telling Erivo and fans that she “already [has] our tissues packed.” The playful disagreement naturally brings back memories of Grande and Erivo’s whirlwind press tour, which rivalled that of Don’t Worry Darling in of headline-grabbing moments. 

Cynthia Erivo says she promises less waterworks on the press tour for ‘WICKED FOR GOOD’ but Ariana Grande promises she’s packed tissues. pic.twitter.com/2ulaJga4k4

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 3, 2025

There was the ceaseless chatter of those who rooted for so-called Gelphie (which was later confirmed by Wicked’s original author), as well as a viral (and NSFW) QR code that was mistakenly printed on Wicked Barbie dolls. Then, of course, there was our collective quest to “hold space for the lyrics to ‘Defying Gravity,’” a sound bite so contagious it’s still used by this writer on a weekly basis. With such an influx of buzzy moments, it stands to reason Erivo might want to take a backseat during For Good’s press run, but let’s hope Grande’s packed tissues are also put to good use, too. 

Since the only fandom more diehard than the Swifities is the musical theater-heads, it wasn’t long before fans reacted to the pair’s comments. “So basically, one’s holding it together and the other’s ready for a full meltdown,” one fan wrote of Erivo and Grande’s opposing press tour goals. “Cynthia holding back tears while Ariana’s ready with tissues is peak friendship goals,” another X added, with a third simply demanding “more tears.”

Cynthia holding back tears while Ariana’s ready with tissues is peak friendship goals.

— Capitán (@SirTopiano) April 3, 2025

In addition to that reference to the viral press tour, Wicked’s CinemaCon showing also included various unseen tidbits. Footage revealed during the presentation reportedly showed Elphaba beginning her campaign to expose the Wizard (played by Jeff Goldblum) and snippets of the original Wizard of Oz storyline intersecting with that of Wicked. That latter element was only teased in part one, and speculation is still rampant as to who will take on the role of Dorothy in For Good. 

First teaser for ‘WICKED: FOR GOOD’ at #CinemaCon shows Glinda & Elphaba reuniting, Elphaba starting her campaign to expose the Wizard, snippets of the original storyline of ‘Wizard of Oz’ intersecting

See the full footage description: https://t.co/BbLDfisoG5 pic.twitter.com/cS07F51D9O

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 3, 2025

While it’s arguably the crown jewel, Wicked wasn’t the only Universal movie promoted by the studio at CinemaCon. The company also showed off the Jurassic World: Rebirth, and announced to much fanfare that How To Train Your Dragon is getting a live-action remake. Still, it’s Grande and her tissues that produced the buzziest moment.

John Chu, the director set to helm a biopic about Britney Spears, has responded to rumors around who will lead the cast of the much-anticipated film. 

In case you missed it, Chu first ed the Spears biopic back in August of last year, setting the internet alight with speculation as to who would portray the iconic pop star. Naturally, a movie of this pedigree spawned a fan-casting frenzy, with audiences floating names like Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande and Millie Bobby Brown for the leading role. The suggestion of the former two actresses was well-placed, since Grande recently starred in Wicked, directed by Chu, and Brown has frequently expressed interest in portraying Spears.

Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter and Millie Bobby Brown battle for Britney Spears role in a Jon M. Chu-directed biopic, described as a “career-making movie.” (Life & Style) pic.twitter.com/l08O4aM28A

— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) March 23, 2025

However, try as they might, fans didn’t quite have the behind-the-scenes influence they might’ve hoped for, at least according to Chu. The director took to social media to react to rumors of Grande, Carpenter and Brown being in contention for the role of Spears, and his response might feel like a dagger in the heart of the pop music fandom. “None of this is true,” Chu wrote in reply to a viral X post that quoted a report from Life & Style. Chu went on to say that while the trio’s attachment to the movie “sounds exciting,” suggestions of their involvement are impossible given where the biopic is at in its development. 

“[We] have not had one conversation about casting this movie yet,” the director wrote, before confirming that “we are way too early in development.” Chu’s statement puts to bed much of the speculation around the cast for the film, which saw other fans put forward names like Olivia Holt, Sydney Sweeney, and Elle Fanning. While information around the cast remains scarce, we do know a few details about the currently untitled biopic. 

None of this is true. Sounds exciting but have not had one conversation about casting this movie yet. We are way too early in development. Sorry

— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) March 23, 2025

Universal Pictures will produce the film after securing the rights last year, and it will be based upon Spears’ own best-selling memoir, The Woman In Me, which arrived in 2023. That book recounts Spears’ career from her days on Mickey Mouse Club to her much-publicized conservatorship battle, but it’s not yet known which elements of the memoir will be used in the biopic. Marc Platt — whose credits include Wicked, Dear Evan Hanson and Cruella — is also on board as a producer. Beyond those details — plus Chu’s revelation in January that Spears herself will be “very involved” — very little is known about the Spears biopic. 

This isn’t the first time Grande and Carpenter have been at the top of fan-cast lists in recent months. Grande — who received an Oscar nomination for her role in Wicked — became the subject of much online chatter around an Audrey Hepburn biopic, after she was spotted channeling the iconic moviestar on multiple red carpets earlier this year. For her part, Carpenter has long been atop fans’ wishlists for the lead role in an inevitable live-action remake of Tangled, though neither actress has confirmed these speculations. 

Millie Bobby Brown tells Access Hollywood that she would still like to play Britney Spears in a future biopic:

“I mean, you know, she is an absolute icon. I would love nothing more than to be a part of her story. But that’s her story, and I am in full of her bringing her… pic.twitter.com/V6nAojozSP

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) February 26, 2025

Naturally, we’ll just have to wait and see who will be given the honor of portraying Spears in the biopic, but in the meantime, we can always revisit her iconic discography, or catch her on old reruns of Mickey Mouse Club. While we’re there, we may even spot a young Ryan Gosling, which I’m certainly not complaining about.

Snow White star Rachel Zegler has revealed the fellow actresses who reached out to her amid all the controversy surrounding the Disney live-action remake. 

For those unaware, Zegler became the subject of intense racist backlash back in 2021, when she was named in the role of the titular princess. Scores of trolls deemed the actress, who is Latina, unworthy to play the character, since Snow White is described as having “skin as white as Snow” in the original fairytale. While it was far from the only controversy to plague the Disney adaptation (more on that later), Zegler has since revealed that Ariana Grande was “so deeply kind” when reaching out to her ahead of the film’s release. 

Rachel Zegler says Ariana Grande reached out to her offering .

“[She] was like, 'If you need anything, I’m here.' She’s so deeply kind. She’s gone through so much in the public eye and I’ve always ired her courage in the face of all of that.”

(https://t.co/739YGrYCRu) pic.twitter.com/dmGECmNMZh

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) March 18, 2025

“[Grande] reached out to me… and was like, ‘If you need anything, I am here,'” Zegler said in a recent interview with Allure magazine, adding that the pop star/actress “is so deeply kind.” Zegler went on to share the similarities between herself and Grande as young women in the spotlight, saying Grande “has gone through so much in the public eye, and I have always really, really ired her courage in the face of all of that.” If anyone knows of the hardships that come with perpetual scrutiny, it’s Grande, but Zegler said she received from others in Hollywood, too. 

For her part, it was The Good Place star Jameela Jamil (also no stranger to controversy) who was “like a sister” to Zegler amid all that racist backlash, while Helen Mirrin and Lucy Liu, who co-starred opposite Zegler in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, “have been my keepers in all of this, where I feel very held by them.” While it’s nice to have that , Zegler has showcased her ability to have her own back, too. Amid the height of the racist public commentary around her casting, Zegler took to social media with a stern message to the haters in a since-deleted post. 

Rachel Zegler as Snow White in ‘SNOW WHITE’ pic.twitter.com/AwzeWi60DN

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) August 10, 2024

“Yes I am Snow White [and] no I am not bleaching my skin for the role,” she wrote at the time. Get ‘em, Rach! On top of the legions of trolls who were nitpicking about a fairytale that was quite literally written hundreds of years ago, Snow White has also endured controversy from other angles. For starters, there was the backlash against Gal Gadot, who stars as the Evil Queen, following her vocal of Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Then came the negative response to news that Disney had not cast little people in the roles of the seven dwarfs, and had instead opted for CGI versions of the characters. 

All of that without even mentioning the (unnecessary) input from Piers Morgan, or fans’ general disappointment with the look and style of the film after the release of the trailer. All the hullabaloo got so intense, in fact, that it was reported last week that Disney had scaled-down the film’s premiere to minimize any further negative press. It remains to be seen whether all the behind-the-scenes drama will completely engulf the film, with Snow White set to hit cinemas on March 21, 2025.  

Now that the Oscars are over, we can kiss film awards season goodbye. But that doesn’t mean the magic has to end… at least not for Ariana Grande and her fans. Beyond all the shimmer and shine as Glinda in Wicked, the fans have been craving the return of Ariana the artist.

Her seventh album, Eternal Sunshine began a new era for the star. However, between her commitments to Wicked and other business ventures, fans have long felt like they didn’t get the best rollout with the album. Alas, there’s more sunshine on the way.

Ariana the artist is still with us

It’s only a matter of time before the press tour for Wicked: For Good begins. Ariana and the rest of the cast and crew will begin yet another journey of promotions. But until then, the singer has given her fans something to look forward to: a deluxe version of Eternal Sunshine. This comes as a huge relief following the announcement that she won’t be touring this year.

Sticking to the theme of the album, Grande’s team shared some major teasers of what’s to come. Fans were asked to call (934) 33-ERASE for news about Grande’s new era.  While on hold, her song “Don’t Wanna Break Up” plays. An audio of Grande then takes over, assuring callers that the deluxe version of Eternal Sunshine is coming “eventually.”

Earlier this year at the Golden Globes, she shared with Access Hollywood that while she’s “not in the studio at the moment,” an “attachment” of the album would be released in the future. Ariana Grande has actually teased a deluxe version of Eternal Sunshine for quite some time now. Not long after the release of the album, a “slightly deluxe” version dropped, featuring remixes with Mariah Carey, Troye Sivan, Brandy, and Monica. 

More sunshine and magic on the way

The Grammys notably and controversially paid Eternal Sunshine dust. This came as a huge surprise, as this felt like Grande’s most ambitious album in a long while. But with only three nominations, and none in the major categories, Eternal Sunshine was snubbed. Critics and fans praised the project, and Grande scored two number-one singles on the Hot 100. Grande has not been one to care much about the Grammys (she’s missed multiple ceremonies). However, perhaps there’s a chance she could snag an award for the body of work. 

Regardless, Grande herself is having a stellar year already. She may not have won the Oscar, but she’s snagged other awards along the way. At the Oscars, she told Variety that the awards circuit has been the most surreal moment of her life.

It’s not something I ever dreamed of in my wildest dreams. The gift of my life was playing Glinda. So this part… I didn’t let my mind go this far. You don’t expect this thing. Doing the work is the gift. This is just such a surreal acknowledgement and cherry on top. To be included with so many actors and actresses I love so much. This whole circuit has been an amazing dream.

Things aren’t slowing down for her either, as she’s set to pick up Glinda’s wand again in Wicked: For Good. The sequel will be released on Nov. 21, and fans expect Eternal Sunshine’s deluxe to be released in the weeks before.

Musicals are still a niche genre, so it’s completely understandable if you haven’t seen Wicked on stage. However, now that it’s a major motion picture, there’s no excuse not to catch what is arguably the biggest movie of the last few months. And if you surprisingly missed its extended run in theaters, fear not, because Wicked is finally heading to streaming. 

Ever since its release, the popularity and success of Wicked has been monumental. Defying gravity, if you will. From its iconic press tour, meme-worthy interviews, and Jonathan Bailey’s suave demeanor to the movie’s box office smashing theatrical run, Wicked has kept audiences entertained for months on end. Now, fans and newbies can enjoy it from the comfort of their homes. 

It’s almost time for a magical streaming debut 

Starting Mar. 21, Wicked: Part 1 will be available to stream on Peacock. The movie was previously available for rent on Prime Video, but now all you’ll need is a Peacock subscription. The streaming release is coming at the perfect time as well. Now that awards season is over, anticipation for Wicked: For Good is officially underway. 

We can’t wait for Wicked: For Good 

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo might have dropped some lowkey teasers for Wicked: For Good with their opening performance at the Oscars. The pair of besties performed three songs in total, and each of them held weight. Grande kicked off the performance with a rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz. Judy Garland sang this song as Dorothy Gale in the movie adaptation, and it won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1940. Following this, Erivo took the stage with a rendition of “Home” from The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical, another Oz adaptation. The Wiz is particularly relevant and stands out among Oz adaptations because it retells the story of The Wizard of Oz through the context of African-American culture, and stars an all-Black cast. 

After this, both women came together to sing the show-stopping duet, “Defying Gravity.” The song is the anthem of Wicked in pop culture, and Erivo’s angelic riff at the end has been attempted by everyone from TikTok influencers, to Keke Palmer. But, what does this have to do with Wicked: For Good?

A brand new interpretation 

Grande’s choice of song might give us an insight into some changes that might be made in the Wicked sequel. There are rumors that Wicked: For Good will borrow some plot points from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to give more context to the story. There has also been constant online debate on whether Dorothy will have a bigger part in the sequel than she did in the musical. If she does, then Grande’s song choice holds more significance. 

As for Erivo’s choice, as a Black woman in the world of Oz, The Wiz is an important part of her history and references. Erivo will also be collaborating with the film’s musical team to create a new song for Elphaba in the sequel. Additionally, a second original song will be made for Glinda. So, even if you know everything about Wicked, there are still some things to look forward to in the sequel. 

Ariana Grande fans are losing their minds over her opening performance at the Academy Awards, not least because it allowed her to change out of *that* red carpet dress.

In case you missed it, the pop star and actress turned heads with her Schiaparelli dress during the pre-awards festivities at this year’s Oscars, but not in the way she might’ve hoped. The sculpted frock featured an outurned corset that allowed the tulle skirt to cascade to the floor, which for some fans was instantly reminiscent of a lampshade. 

Ariana Grande looks stunning but also a little bit like a lampshade #Oscars pic.twitter.com/xrO9aO19Gj

— Dani (@danidelle23) March 2, 2025

listen ariana grande will look stunning in just abt anything but that oscars dress looked like a lampshade let's not kid ourselves

— fond of hats (@omgyourebald) March 2, 2025

“It’s giving lampshade,” one onlooker wrote of Grande, with another noting that while the actress “will look stunning in just about anything,” the dress nonetheless “looked like a lampshade let’s not kid ourselves.” Thankfully, any goodwill lost from Grande’s red carpet dress was quickly recuperated moments later, when she appeared on stage to open the Oscars ceremony with a duet with Cynthia Erivo. 

The stars, who are both nominated for their respective roles in Wicked, delivered a goosebumps-inducing rendition of The Wizard of Oz classics. For her part, Grande busted out a performance of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”, while Erivo sang “Home”, which is lifted from The Wiz — another Broadway rendition of The Wizard of Oz. The pair finished off the tribute opening with a t performance of “Defying Gravity,” which had been escapable from this writer’s brain for basically the last three months. 

Every singer tries their hand at Somewhere over the Rainbow, at some point in their career. Few do it justice.

Ariana Grande captures the magic at #Oscars2025

Stunning opening from her and Cynthia Erivo pic.twitter.com/Zza1PFDxOz

— It's a lawyer's life (@itsalawyerslife) March 3, 2025

While Grande’s unmatched vocals caught the most attention, that was not to be outdone by her dress, which channelled major Dorothy vibes in a seeming ode to the character’s ruby slippers. Hammering the tribute home, the back of Grande’s dress even featured a slipper sculpture, sending our collective excitement about Wicked: For Good into the stratosphere. “Ariana Grande changed out of her lampshade and into Dorothy’s left slipper,” one fan surmised, with another adding that the singer” sounds so ethereal.”

Another quipped that Grande “defines elegance,” with a fourth declaring it “a stunning performance.” Sadly, “Defying Gravity” was not nominated for Best Original Song (since it was lifted from Wicked’s broadway show and so is not technically “original”), but it did score a whopping 10 nominations across multiple categories. At the time of writing, Wicked already collected a win for Paul Tazewell for Best Costume Design, making Oscars history as the first time a Black man has received the award. It also won the award for  Best Production Design, with Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales accepting the honor.

Ariana Grande changed out of her lampshade and into Dorothy’s left slipper. #Oscars

— Nicky Frank (@NickyFrank30) March 3, 2025

Grande was up for Best ing Actress alongside Monica Barbaro, Felicity Jones, Erzsébet Tóth, Isabella Rossellini, Zoe Saldaña. Saldaña, who was the frontrunner, unsurprisingly came out on top for Emilia Pérez. In the other acting categories, it was Kieran Culkin who collected the Best ing Actor gong for A Real Pain — which is coincidentally the three words I used to describe the moments after Grande exited the Oscars stage. Thankfully, we’ll see her again when Wicked: For Good hits cinemas in November of this year. 

Ariana Grande performing Over The Rainbow at the #Oscars dressed as Dorothy’s ruby slipper was pure perfection pic.twitter.com/Z1eBZi555B

— mizge (@mihailo____) March 3, 2025

Oh, we also might see her in A24’s Jennifer Lawrence-starring murder mystery based on The Real Housewives, which is a sentence I’ll never tire of reading. In the meantime, I’m off to rewatch Grande and Erivo’s Oscars opening performance and see whether there’s any more tears left to cry in my tear ducts.

In a sentence that contains so many buzzwords I’m afraid it might sting me, Ariana Grande is reportedly in talks to star in A24’s Real Housewives-inspired film alongside Jennifer Lawrence. 

Okay, that’s a lot to get your head around, so let me offer some clarity. We’ve known for some time that Lawrence is producing and leading the cast of The Wives, an murder mystery thriller that is said to be in the vein of The Real Housewives. Details beyond the production companies, A24 and Apple Studios, and the screenwriters, Michael Breslin and Patrick Foley, have remained scarce since that initial announcement, at least until now.

Ariana Grande has reportedly been approached to star in a "female detective romp set in a Housewives-style reality show"

‘THE WIVES,’ a murder mystery starring Jennifer Lawrence and inspired by the ‘Real Housewives’, is currently in development at A24. pic.twitter.com/XSY2onjxk3

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) February 11, 2025

According to some sources, Grande has been approached to the cast of The Wives, in what would mark her second acting collaboration with Lawrence following 2021’s Don’t Look Up. Grande’s rumored involvement in the film, which will surely send Bravoholics into overdrive, comes courtesy of her recent profile in The Hollywood Reporter. It mentioned multiple roles being offered to the singer/actress, including one that is a “female detective romp set in a Housewives-style reality show.”

While that role was never officially confirmed to be The Wives, one plus one seems to equal two, and Grande plus Lawrence undeniably equals ICONIC. If this movie doesn’t involve all the wine-throwing and table-flipping that become Real Housewives canon, I will give up on the idea of Hollywood forever. Of course, we may be getting ahead of ourselves, since the film is as shrouded in secrecy as the actions of an adulterous Housewife. 

What we do know, however, is that Lawrence, a noted Bravo superfan, is best poised to lead The Wives. She has spoken regularly on red carpets about her thoughts on various iterations of the sprawling reality TV franchise, and even met bonafide Housewives legends Bethenny Frankel and Luann de Lesseps. In an entertainment landscape where reality TV is (wrongfully) relegated to low-brow status, having an Oscar-winner lead an A24-produced movie inspired by Real Housewives might just be the push needed for our beloved Housewives to win the Emmys, Oscars, and Nobel Peace Prizes they so thoroughly deserve. 

We don’t yet know whether Grande is a Real Housewives fan, but she has in the past shared her love of its reality TV sorority sister, Love Is Blind. In any case, it’s thought The Wives is just one of the film roles that Grande has been offered in the wake of Wicked, which marked her first major film acting role and earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best ing Actress last month. 

Jennifer Lawrence is so real #RHOSLCpic.twitter.com/aL950fDPs3

— Austin Ashburn (@AustinJAshburn) January 8, 2024

It was also revealed that Grande was offered a role in the Spaceballs sequel alongside Josh Gad, but she refused to confirm or deny to The Hollywood Reporter whether that casting rumor was correct. A “disaster wedding comedy” was also mentioned in the profile, but more details around that project remain unknown. 

Adding to the list of Grande’s potential movies is the Jennifer Aniston-produced 9 to 5 reboot, which is also reportedly circling Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney, as well as an Audrey Hepburn biopic. That last one was more of a fan-cast in response to Grande’s Hepburn-referencing red carpet looks, but scream loud enough and maybe the Hollywood execs will take notice. On that note, I scream into the ether; PLEASE CAST GRANDE IN THE WIVES. 

It’s been nearly three months since its debut in cinemas, and Wicked‘s popu-lahrity is still going as strong as expected. Its $723 million box office deadlift has since been boosted by a whopping 10 Academy Award nominations, among them a Best Actress and Best ing Actress nod for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, respectively.

It’s not terribly difficult to see why; the duo’s chemistry as Elphaba and Glinda could turn salt water into ice cream. The pair is so beloved, in fact, that Elphaba-Glinda fanfiction has become something of a lucrative currency, much to the shock of Grande herself, per her recent profile on The Hollywood Reporter.

… people think we’re secretly married… the Gelphie stuff… I wish I could unsee some things. I mean, wow, I had a feeling, but I didn’t know it would be on this scale or this graphic.

“Gelphie,” in this case, being the ship name of Elphaba and Glinda. A ship name, meanwhile, being a combination of two characters’ names to denote romance-driven fan stories involving said characters. Those familiar with the high seas of fanfiction websites will know that already; an advantage that Grande, evidently, did not have when she signed on for an adaptation of one of the most beloved musicals of all time.

The pop star-turned-Oscar-nominee alludes to some “graphic” material that she wishes she could “unsee,” but we’ll spare you the speculation on what she specifically means there. One thing is for sure, though; the online obsession with Glinda and Elphaba is but one ornament on the tree that is Wicked‘s cultural significance, which itself is likely playing no small part in its awards season run.

Indeed, the preceding stage musical — an adaptation of the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel, itself based on L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz — teed Wicked up for a lot of love early on, first from Maguire himself, and then from the likes of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda on Broadway. Grande’s casting no doubt brought the film a lot of attention from her musical fanbase as well.

Then TikTok pounced on the hype, with Wicked fans old and new quickly flooding the algorithm with a plethora of songs and dances from the film. More recently, per EOnline, Taylor Swift — who is, of course, capable of shifting the entertainment industry with a tweet — recreated the “holding space” TikTok trend with Cynthia Erivo at the 2025 Grammy Awards, further proving the chokehold that Jon M. Chu’s fantasy musical has on the world.

And now, it’s the Oscars broadcast that stand to benefit from Wicked‘s prominence most of all. What better way to have viewers tune in to your ceremony than by making sure the internet’s favorite movie is well-represented among the nominees? Not to discredit Wicked‘s significant technical achievements nor the inch-perfect character work from Grande and Erivo, of course, but we mustn’t forget that the Academy once believed that Top Gun: Maverick deserved a Best Picture nomination over Till and The Woman King, despite its most notable merit being its $1.49 billion box office haul.

In short, no, Grande and Erivo are not secretly-or-otherwise married, and it’s entirely possible that the Academy isn’t a sincere body. We are, therefore, much better off treating the Oscars as a fun, celebratory event rather than an arbiter of who’s better than who. That’s probably how the Munchkins treat Oz’s various award shows.

The 2024 American Film Institute Awards took place just last night, where 10 feature films and 10 television programs were honored for their cultural and artistic significance among last year’s efforts in their respective mediums.

Courtesy of Wicked and Nobody Wants This, the event’s attendees included Ariana Grande and Kristen Bell, who happen to be the same person. How this fact evaded us for so long is anyone’s guess, but we now have confirmation thanks to this candid moment caught on camera between the two(?) actresses.

A cynic might tell you that this was staged, but they’d only be half correct. What you’re seeing here is an instance of unintentional twinning brought on by the telepathic link shared by powerful fictional women of all creeds and backgrounds — good and antiheroic, of pure grit and an affinity for bubbles, lovingly rivaled by the Elsas and Elphabas of the world, and born of Disney and L. Frank Baum alike. Indeed, this is not a meeting of Grande and Bell, but of Glinda and Anna.

The cream-colored, sleeveless dresses and curvy ponytails worn by both actresses are indeed uncanny in their resemblance. So much so that a select few denizens of X are now demanding a mother-daughter film starring Bell as the mother and Grande as the daughter.

Based on the rip-roaringly beloved stage musical of the same name, Wicked‘s presence at the AFI Awards can primarily be boiled down to its cultural significance. Having grossed $722.9 million against a $150 million budget, the world went wacky for Wicked when it showed up in theaters, and its emotional warmth proved a considerable countermeasure to the horrors and corruption that dominate so much of the news cycle. Grande has since been nominated for the Academy Award for Best ing Actress following her turn as Glinda in the film, and the actress’ prominent foothold in the music world likely did wonders for the scope of Wicked‘s target audience.

Nobody Wants This, for its part, defied the notion that “Netflix romcom” could only ever be spoken as a pejorative. The series, which is due for a second season later this year, smartly unpacks the nuances of interfaith romance — using Bell’s agnostic podcaster Joanne and Adam Brody’s rabbi Noah Roklov as its muses — while serving up a dynamic with enough chemistry to usher BP Oil into the soup industry.

Also among the AFI honorees was Baby Reindeer, the phenomenally empathetic Netflix miniseries that cleaned up at the Emmys before scooping up the AFI Special Award yesterday. ing Wicked in the motion picture category were Sing Sing, A Real Pain, Nickel Boys, Dune: Part Two, Conclave, A Complete Unknown, Anora, The Brutalist, and Emilia Pérez.

Elsewhere, Nobody Wants This‘ compatriots on the television side of things included Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, A Man on the Inside, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Penguin, Shrinking, True Detective: Night Country, and Shōgun.

Receiving an Oscar nomination is many actors’ dream. Sometimes, it’s something they’ve been working towards their entire lives, which is certainly the case for Ariana Grande and Jeremy Strong.

Both are now first-time nominees for their respective ing performances in Wicked and The Apprentice, and they marked the occasion by sharing childhood pictures that provide extra meaningful context to their achievement.

“I’m sharing this with tiny Ari, (…) I’m so proud of you,” Grande reflected under an Instagram post containing, among other photos, one of the singer dressed as Dorothy as a little kid and singing “The Wizard and I” as a teen. It’s well known that the 31-year-old practically manifested her Oscar-nominated role as Glinda in the movie musical, but Strong’s childhood anecdote could give her cosmic powers a run for their money.

The Succession actor is arguably the most earnest actor working today. That might have landed him on the receiving end of a few method acting-related jokes, but it’s also why his first Oscar nomination is so special.

This man really wants it, and he’s never been ashamed to it it. To celebrate his “lifelong dream” of becoming an Academy Award-nominated actor, Strong shared a story from when he was just a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed 14-year-old hopeful waiting outside the Oscars’ venue to catch a glimpse of all his favorite actors. Now he’s one of them.

In a statement sent to multiple outlets, the Succession actor said the nomination had him thinking back to 1993, when his dad took him to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, to watch the stars arrive at the 65th Academy Awards.

“I spending the night on cold metal bleachers,” he recalled, adding, “being unable to sleep because of how exciting it was to be close to that world.” Strong says he never lost that feeling, that he feels it “every time [he goes] to set or [drives] onto a lot or [begins] rehearsals,” and we believe him.

He’s gained a reputation for being incredibly dedicated to his art form and his career. There are tales about bankrupting the Yale theater department so he could have dinner with Al Pacino, going a little too detail-crazy as Daniel Day-Lewis’s personal assistant on The Ballad of Jack and Rose and, of course, annoying Succession co-star Brian Cox with his method acting.

But it’s paid off. Ever since Kendall Roy put him on the map after a few years of smaller roles, Strong has won one Emmy, one Tony, several SAG, and one Golden Globe. To that very exclusive list, he’s now added Oscar and BAFTA nods for his performance in the controversial biopic where he plays Roy Cohn to Sebastian Stan’s Donald Trump during the latter’s rise as a New York real estate mogul in the ’70s and ’80s.

The Apprentice, which has left Hollywood scrambling, is neither extremely critical nor particularly benevolent towards the would-be president of the United States. Even if no one knows whether to celebrate or condemn it, the quality and strength of Stan and Strong’s performances have never been questioned. The nominations alone feel like a reward for daring to go anywhere near a film that Trump has described as a “politically disgusting hatchet job.”

“I have devoted my life to the attempt to do genuine work that would be worthy of this honor,” Strong’s statement continued. “I am filled with amazement and flooded with emotion and with deep gratitude to my peers in the Academy,” he concluded.

Of course, in true Roy family fashion, it’s looking like he might lose to his on-screen brother and nemesis Kieran Culkin in a repeat of what happened at the Golden Globes earlier this month. That somehow makes this so-desired nomination for Strong all the more perfect.