Jonathan Murray Chu reveals truth behind Ariana Grande’s ‘Wicked’ audition
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jonathan Murray Chu, the American film director behind the highly anticipated Wicked musical adaptation, shared a major misunderstanding that occurred while auditioning Ariana Grande for the role. Despite Ariana’s clear desire to play Glinda, the casting directors initially thought she was auditioning for the role of Elphaba, causing significant confusion during the audition process.
Ariana Grande’s Dream Role Was Always Glinda
When asked whether Ariana was ever considered for a different role, Jonathan firmly stated, “No.” He explained that he was initially sure that the “We Can’t Be Friends” singer would be perfect for Glinda, but the casting director mistakenly believed she was auditioning for the Elphaba role. This miscommunication led to a situation where Ariana prepared for multiple Elphaba songs, despite her clear interest in playing Glinda.
Jonathan Murray Chu recalled how the situation unfolded, saying, “We were getting mixed messages.” He explained how the casting director convinced him that Ariana wanted to audition for Elphaba, leading them to prepare Ariana for the Elphaba songs, including “The Wizard and I.” Ariana, on the other hand, had always dreamed of playing Glinda and was initially shocked by the misunderstanding.
“I’m like, ‘That was not the plan,'” Jonathan shared. “And they’re like, ‘Well, she prepped it,'” referring to Ariana’s preparation for the role of Elphaba, despite her preference for playing Glinda.
Ariana Grande Speaks Out About the Confusion
Ariana Grande herself addressed the audition confusion during a recent appearance on the Sentimental Men Podcast. The Sam and Cat star revealed that she was hearing mixed signals from the casting team. “I was hearing really mixed things from people who were like, ‘Oh, they maybe want you to read for both,'” she explained. Ariana noted that she thought the casting team was unsure of her vocal range, which led them to consider her for both roles.
Despite the confusion, Ariana Grande always knew that Glinda was her true calling. “I secretly knew that I was only meant for Glinda,” she added.
A Surprising Twist in Wicked Casting
This revelation about Ariana Grande’s audition for Wicked sheds light on the behind-the-scenes confusion and miscommunication during the casting process. While Ariana was initially considered for both roles, it’s clear that her heart was set on playing Glinda, a role that fans now eagerly anticipate her bringing to life. Jonathan Murray Chu’s open discussion about the situation highlights the challenges faced by casting teams and performers in bringing together the perfect match for such iconic roles.
