The Wicked film adaptation almost looked very different, according to a new report from Page Six.
While John M. Chu ended up directing the movie arriving in theaters this weekend, Stephen Daldry (known for his award-winning work on The Crown) was initially attached. Daldry had Lady Gaga in mind to play the central role of Elphaba, and the report reveals that multiple meetings were held to flesh out their vision for the character.
“Gaga was essentially cast in his version, and then it fell through,” the source explained. Meanwhile, Shawn Mendes was being considered for the role of Fiyero, the charming student who becomes an object of affection for both Elphaba and Glinda.
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In 2020, Daldry left the project due to scheduling conflicts; Chu, known for his work on Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights, ultimately cast Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as her counterpart, Glinda. Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey took on the role of Fiyero.
While Gaga was acclaimed for her role in Bradley Cooper’s A Star Is Born, she didn’t fare as well in 2024’s Joker: Folie à Deux, which was a box office bomb. However, the pop star has already pivoted back to music, dropping recent Song of the Week “Disease” as the first tease of her upcoming seventh album. She’s also said to be appearing in the next season of Netflix’s Wednesday.
Wicked will officially fly into theaters this weekend; our own Paolo Ragusa described the spectacle as an opportunity to inspire legions of future theater kids. Read the full review here.
