How the Depraved Director Got to Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Glinda and Elphaba

Unless you’ve been living under popular cultural rock, you know that Grande has been vying for the role of Glinda the Good Witch since she first saw the Broadway musical as a 10-year-old. Grande even met the unique cast backstage and He even sang a little bit of “Well-liked” for OG Glinda, Kristin Chenoweth on time.

So the 31-year-old actor landing the role in the film adaptation of the musical seems like a given… right?

Trying to solidify the iconic musical’s beloved leads won’t be an easy task for Chu, and he admitted he resisted making the “simple” decision to cast Grande in the role.

“She took the test many times,” Chu said Honest self-importance remembered within Depraved cover story, before adding that the singer used to arrive at her auditions half an hour early and drive around in her car until it was time for her name.

“I kind of didn’t want to think she could do that. It seems so simple to say, ‘Oh, Ariana Grande,’” he told the publication.

Still, Grande fought for her spot, with Chu adding, “Every time she came in, she was the most interesting person. You just couldn’t take your eyes off.”

She, of course, wasn’t the only one to audition for the role and Grande was opposed by some of her personal friends.

“I knew most of the people who were moving in and everyone was messaging me,” Grande said, before stating that she actually helped others prepare for their auditions for her dream position.

Costar Cynthia Erivo, who plays the role of Elphaba, was shocked to hear this – telling her: “Ari, this is crazy.”

“I know,” Grande responded, before adding, “I had no limits back then.”

Erivo, however, handled her audition entirely differently — and despite being one award away from an EGOT, the Broadway star wasn’t sure she would be “seen” for the role of Elphaba.

“I was like, ‘I don’t think that’s going to happen, but I love the idea of ​​watching this musical,’” she admitted.

Unlike Grande, Erivo didn’t want to know anything about the other people she would be competing against. “I always told my team, ‘Don’t give me any information. I don’t want to know,’” she said.

“’I don’t wish to know who entered. I don’t want to know what people are being asked to do. I don’t wish to know anything about it.’”

However, as soon as Erivo entered the room, Chu said “she embodied this version of Elphaba that I had never seen.”

See each of them in motion when Depraved: Middle One premieres on November 27, 2024.