Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Belt Out Live Vocals for Wicked Movie Adaptation

Both Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opted to sing live for director Jon M. Chu‘s upcoming big-screen adaptation of the smash Broadway musical Wicked. This commitment to live vocals throws the spotlight on their powerhouse performances and promises an authentic musical experience for audiences.

Chu revealed the singers’ dedication in an interview with Vanity Fair. “These are live vocals,” he confirmed. “When we were shooting it, those girls were like, ‘F*ck the pre-records. We’re going live.'”

While Chu initially expressed reservations about capturing live vocals amidst the film’s demanding choreography and scene work, Grande and Erivo remained undeterred. Their response, as Chu relayed, was a simple, “Yeah. That’s what we do.”

This approach aligns with recent movie musicals like Les Misérables, La La Land, and A Star Is Born, all critically acclaimed for their sound design and achieving Oscar recognition in the Best Sound category.

Grande’s passion for the project is well-documented. A longtime admirer of Wicked, the Wizard of Oz prequel based on Gregory Maguire‘s novel, her determination to land the role bordered on the legendary.

“It was literally 10 years of being like, ‘Knock, knock, any developments? Is there an audition coming this year, or next year? I would like to start preparing today,'” Grande revealed.

Chu himself witnessed this dedication. “I’d see her car circling,” he recalled of the audition process. “‘Who is that?’ [I’d ask] ‘That’s Ariana Grande.’ ‘Why is she here so early?'”

The first installment of Chu’s Wicked saga hits theaters on November 27th, primed to deliver a powerful combination of live vocals and captivating storytelling.