- It’s the part which was won by Ariana Grande
- But before the Dangerous Woman singer bagged the part, which other actors stepped into the audition room to try out for the role of Glinda in Wicked?
- Pubity.com takes a look at the famous faces who almost made the cut…
Wicked is one of the biggest movies of the year – and with Ariana Grande at the helm, it’s no wonder.
The singer and actor, 31, is currently turning heads in theaters across the globe as Glinda in Jon M. Chus’s adaptation of the Broadway musical.
Starring opposite Cynthia Erivo, fans never had a doubt that Grande was perfect for the part.
But she wasn’t the only name in the running.
There were many other famous faces linked to potentially playing the Good Witch are – including another actor who starred in a movie musical adaptation.
Pubity.com takes a look at the Glindas who could have been…
Dove Cameron
A huge fan of the show, Dove Cameron made her feelings about the role known back in 2019.
“I don’t think everyone wants me to be Glinda but, I mean, it’s like the role of a lifetime,” she told ET. “I’ve been dreaming of it since I was, like, seven. I mean, I should be so lucky to be considered.”
For a while, it even seemed like the stars had aligned and Glinda was Cameron’s for the taking – after playing the daughter of Broadway’s original Glinda, Kristin Chenoweth, in both Descendants and Hairspray Live. The actor herself even said that Cameron would make a “great” Glinda.
In April 2023, Cameron confirmed that she had auditioned for the part.
“I know that for everybody who did go out for it, it was a very long process,” she admitted. “It was one of the longer processes I’ve been a part of.”
But although she didn’t land the role, Cameron simply Couldn’t Be Happier for her pal Grande.
“I’m so excited for Ariana. She’s a genuinely dear friend of mine,” she said. “We met when we were super young. I think she’s going to kill it. I think the whole cast is phenomenal head to toe. So, like, as a fan, I’m really, really excited to see it.”
Reneé Rapp
Another name linked to the role was Reneé Rapp.
Making her name as Regina George in both the stage and movie musical versions of Mean Girls, Rapp has revealed that she tried out for Glinda.
When asked if she auditioned, she replied, “I did, I did, yeah. Ariana’s gonna be – can I cuss? Ok, she’s gonna be f***ing amazing. I’m so excited.”
Taylor Louderman
But while Rapp may not have been the only Regina George to take to the audition room, she was certainly the most gracious.
Taylor Louderman – who originated the role of George in Mean Girls on Broadway – took to Instagram shortly after the lead castings for Wicked were announced.
Alongside a screenshot of Deadline’s article, Louderman wrote, “Yyyy did I even audition or think I had a chance?!
“This business… you can’t care too much about any role you’re auditioning for (or you could get hurt and won’t come back) but you have to care enough to give it your all.”
Adding a photo of herself looking tearful, Louderman added, “I cared too much this time. I hope it’s okay that I’m sharing this.”
Amanda Seyfried
Perhaps the most famous face aside from Grande’s attached to the project was Amanda Seyfried.
Already starring in the hit adaptations of Mamma Mia and Les Misérables, Seyfried revealed she put her all into the audition process.
At the time, the actor was also working on The Dropout – which later earned her an Emmy and a Golden Globe – but worked to her limit in order to be able to audition in person.
“I have dreams that I’m still auditioning for Wicked,” Seyfried admitted. “Last summer while I was playing Elizabeth [on The Dropout], on the weekends I was auditioning in person to play Glinda in the movie version of Wicked – because I wanted it that much that I was like, ‘You know what? Yeah, I have to play the last scene of The Dropout on Tuesday. I’ll give my Sunday to you.”
“I literally bent over backwards while playing the hardest role of my life.”
While she may not have bagged the role, Seyfried is still proud to have been considered.
“But I think it also taught me how far I’ve come as a singer, which I really wanted to prove,” she explained. “Because ever since Les Mis, I was like, ‘I need to be better. I need to do better.’ So whatever comes next in terms of musicals, I’m finally prepared.”
We can confirm: after a video of Seyfried singing one of Glinda’s tunes went viral on TikTok, we’re sure her next role will prove to be Popular!
