Movies

How the Wicked cast defied normality with bizarre gaffes, unexpected outbursts and PLENTY of tears… but it was all for good as movie breaks box office records

BBG News

As a seasoned observer of the world of entertainment, I find myself utterly captivated by the extraordinary journey of these two women, Ariana and Cynthia, as they bring Wicked to life. Their emotional connection is palpable, their chemistry undeniable, and their shared experiences have created an unbreakable bond that transcends the screen.

After four long years of production, Wicked made its grand debut in cinemas, receiving widespread praise and setting new standards. Its impressive $114 million opening at the US box office marked a record for any musical adaptation, contributing to a worldwide total of $164,180,000.

Despite the movie itself not generating much conversation, it’s the peculiar press tour surrounding it that has become more notable. The cast has found themselves embroiled in a string of awkward slip-ups, faux pas, and have been ridiculed for their persistent emotional outbursts.

In the movie adaptation of the popular book and Broadway musical, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have been taking on the roles as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch of the South respectively, leading their performances.

Together, they’ve embraced their parts wholeheartedly, frequently appearing in eye-catching pink and green dresses at global red carpet events while also promoting the brand’s merchandise enthusiastically.

However, it is their actions during media interviews (press junkets) that have left fans puzzled and made this duo a frequent topic of humor on the internet as memes.

Now, TopMob recaps the awkward instances that the cast probably wished could vanish into thin air.

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished 

One Wicked fan came under fire from Cynthia after they edited the movie’s poster to make it look more like the iconic Broadway print. 

Spectators found Ariana and Cynthia’s performance lackluster, pointing out that in the initial promotional material, Elphaba’s hat concealed her eyes and she sported a bold stroke of red lipstick.

After a fan modified the film poster in such a way, Cynthia became furious and expressed her feelings on Instagram: “Nothing about this is amusing or appealing. It belittles me. It belittles us all.

In simpler terms, the initial post was created as an ILLUSTRATION. However, I, in contrast, am a real-life person. I intentionally faced the camera head-on toward you, the viewer, without using words, for our communication is not just verbal but also occurs through our eyes.

After showcasing her impressive acting skills, she proceeded to explain the distinct aspects between the initial musical rendition and the staged adaptation.

She stated that our poster pays tribute, rather than copies, explaining further that altering her appearance by editing her face or concealing her eyes is like wiping out her identity. This, she finds, is extremely painful.

In simpler terms, fans criticized Cynthia for being emotional and excessive in her online responses. Later on, she admitted that it would have been wiser of her to contact friends instead of posting on social media.

Simultaneously, the person who made the post defended themselves by stating that they didn’t create it out of ill-will. They had removed it earlier because they believed it was appropriate, but they added that fans posting comments about films is not a new phenomenon; it has been happening for as long as movies have been in existence.

I didn’t intend for it to bring any harm and the design is merely an acknowledgement of the original Broadway poster, similar to how the film adaptation was created.

No One Mourns The Glicked

Enthusiasts of cinema found themselves squirming due to the unsuccessful effort at realizing the concept of ‘Glicked’, an idea that encourages viewers to watch the movies Wicked and Gladiator II in a single day.

In the previous year, Barbenheimer dominated globally when moviegoers flocked to watch Barbie and Oppenheimer in quick succession, some even donning costumes for consecutive cinema outings.

Following the announcement that Wicked and Gladiator II were set to premiere in cinemas on November 22, some enthusiasts expressed their creative ideas by suggesting a potential joint title for these two films on various social platforms.

Despite being widely criticized online, Ariana and Cynthia bucked the trend by expressing their backing for it publicly.

During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Cynthia expressed, “We’re fine with it; today is ‘Glicked’ day, and we enjoy this day.

Queer Old Shiz 

Ariana drew criticism when she seemed not to fully grasp the concept of ‘queer’, as her comments about Glinda’s feelings for Elphaba suggesting something beyond a platonic relationship could be interpreted as such.

During an interview, Ariana made a statement that caused quite a stir when she suggested that the character Glinda could potentially identify as LGBTQ+, drawing attention to the original L. Frank Baum books which form the basis of the story “Wicked.

She described Oz as a ‘celebration of uniqueness,’ gushing that ‘everyone is just so beautifully queer and that roots all the way back to the L. Frank Baum books, where, like, literally the most commonly used word in the books is “queer.”‘

Ariana noted that “every day in the Emerald City, the capital of the fantastical Land of Oz, feels like a Pride celebration… just like the chickens in this place, they are all part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Enraged supporters swiftly criticized her on social media platforms, alleging that she was intentionally hinting at being queer without confirming it, a practice they referred to as “queerbaiting.

In the early 1900s, as these books came out, the term ‘queer’ was commonly used to refer to something unusual or odd, rather than indicating someone’s sexuality.

What Is She Feeling? 

Last week, Cynthia faced a barrage of ridicule online after displaying a puzzling response during her interview with Tracy E. Gilchrist.

In an interview with Out, Tracy shared her observations about audience responses to the movie’s final song, “Defying Gravity.” She noted that people seemed to be deeply connecting with the words and creating a strong emotional resonance.

Cynthia seemed deeply affected, covering her heart and struggling to hold back tears while saying, “I wasn’t aware of that situation. That’s quite impactful. That’s exactly what I aimed for.

Tracy shared with Cynthia, “I’ve come across it in a few places, but I can’t say for sure how common it is, given that I’m involved in LGBTQ+ media.

On social media, the ‘holding space’ interaction between people went viral as it sparked an avalanche of humor, with many poking fun at Cynthia’s emotionally intense actions.

It raised curiosity among fans as to why Cynthia appeared emotional, since neither the movie nor its accompanying soundtrack had been unveiled yet, suggesting that her posts might not have related to her at all initially.

Ariana, too, faced teasing regarding her actions following her display of empathy towards her colleague by holding Cynthia’s finger (specifically the index one).

A post shared by Out Magazine (@outmagazine)

Not As Popular? 

I was taken aback this week upon hearing the revelation that while my dear co-star Ariana reportedly earned a whopping $15 million, I, Cynthia, was only paid $1 million for our shared project. The disparity left me feeling quite stunned.

Although Ariana is generally better recognized than Cynthia, it came as a surprise to fans when they realized the significant difference in their popularity levels, considering that Glinda is primarily a supportive character compared to Elphaba who takes the lead in their shared story.

Following a significant online uproar, a representative from Universal swiftly addressed the rumors, explaining that reports suggesting a wage gap between Cynthia and Ariana were entirely unfounded and originated from speculative information circulating online.

‘The women received equal pay for their work on ‘Wicked.’

However, it is still unclear exactly what salary they were both paid.

It’s been speculated, without concrete evidence, that Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum, portraying Madame Morrible and the Wizard in the production, allegedly received a compensation of $2 million apiece.

Regarding the other principal actors mentioned, it’s been rumored that Jonathan Bailey, famously recognized as Prince Fiyero, is allegedly making close to half a million dollars.

It’s said that he earns approximately $450,000, whereas Ethan Slater, known for playing Boq and who met his current partner Ariana during the film’s production, allegedly makes around $350,000.

Marissa Bode and Bowen Yang’s reported salaries are $250,000 each, per the rumoured list.

I’m Not That Girl(friend) 

Last July sent shockwaves through the fandom when I discovered that the one and only Ariana Grande had parted ways with Dalton Gomez and started seeing her fellow cast member, Ethan Slater. This unexpected development came to light just months after Ethan’s wife gave birth to their little bundle of joy!

Towards the end of that particular month, Ethan initiated a divorce proceeding against his long-time girlfriend, Lilly Jay – who, as reported by TMZ, was left utterly shocked by this development.

It was said that the mother who had just given birth was deeply saddened due to a sense of being deceived, as Ariana had previously socialized with her and her spouse during their marriage.

According to the source, Ethan had discussed his relationship with Ariana with his former spouse a couple of days prior to the public announcement, leading to him filing for divorce.

Lilly Jay went on to lash out at Ariana, claiming she wasn’t a ‘girls’ girl.’  

The romantic involvement between Ariana and Ethan faced intense criticism from fans, causing studio officials to intervene out of concern that their relationship might negatively impact the highly anticipated film, as it boasted a substantial production budget of $145 million.

It was alleged that the couple were advised to stay out of sight for around half a year, hoping that any negative reactions might subside by the time their much-anticipated musical film premiered in theaters.

Last month, Ethan broke his silence on the situation in an interview with GQ – as he and Ariana began appearing in public together to promote the film.

He told the publication: ‘It’s really hard to see people who don’t know anything about what’s happening commenting on it and speculating, and then getting things wrong about the people you love.’

Something Bad Is Happening In Shops 

Prior to the launch of “Wicked”, Universal Pictures collaborated with various brands such as Crocs and Stanley, among others, for the marketing campaign of the movie.

Instead, Mattel’s eagerly awaited Wicked doll line sparked discussions among fans for unfortunate reasons as it was withdrawn from stores following an inappropriate error in the product packaging.

At the base of the container, a hyperlink led customers unintentionally to an adult entertainment website, wicked.com, rather than the intended destination, the official movie page, wickedmovie.com.

In major retail outlets like the US and Australia, the dolls were swiftly removed from display.

A representative from Mattel has issued an apology for the mistake, assuring swift action to correct the situation.

‘Parents are advised that the misprinted, incorrect website is not appropriate for children.

Users who currently own the product are recommended to either throw away the product’s packaging or cover any identifiable links, followed by reaching out to Mattel’s customer service for additional details.

A Sentimental WoMan 

Ariana and Cynthia haven’t held back when expressing their feelings at the media events, frequently breaking down in tears even during casual conversations.

In an engaging chat with Jake Hamilton on his show, Jake’s Takes, he posed a thought-provoking question: “How have the people in my life positively transformed me?” When it comes to collaborations like our duet, For Good, I couldn’t help but reflect upon the profound impact these partnerships have had on shaping who I am today.

In an instant, they both began to cry uncontrollably, with Cynthia saying, “Initially, there was something incomplete about each of us, and I believe we’ve been able to recognize pieces of ourselves in one another. So, I think I found a touch of her gentleness.

Ariana, so consumed with emotion that she could barely speak, managed to choke out: ‘Her strength.’

During an appearance on the Heart Breakfast show, the duo was reprimanded for their frequent emotional outbursts. Host Amanda Holden remarked to Cynthia, “In every interview I’ve read involving you and Ariana, it seems like you’re always shedding tears.

Cynthia responded: ‘We do! And I think it’s because people have come in with such energy and they come in, their responses, their emotional responses come into the room with us. 

For the first time, we’re having a conversation about it, which allows us to reminisce and discuss in detail our shared experiences and the path we’ve traveled together.

‘We can’t help it, we get very emotional about it.’

Read More

2024-12-01 18:07

Previous post All 9 existing chapters of The Winds of Winter, explored and explained
Next post The one actor who should play Deadman in the DC Universe