Ariana Grande, who stars as Glinda in the highly anticipated Wicked film, ensured the beloved character’s legacy remained intact by rejecting a modern twist to one of the musical’s most iconic songs, Popular.
Stephen Schwartz, the composer behind the original Broadway production, revealed that he had considered updating the song’s rhythm to fit a contemporary vibe for the movie. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Schwartz explained, “In the spirit of being open to new things for the movie, my music team and I thought, let’s refresh the rhythm. Let’s, maybe, I don’t know, hip-hop it up a little bit.”
However, Grande stood firm against the idea. “Ariana said, ‘Absolutely not, don’t do it. I want to be Glinda, not Ariana Grande playing Glinda,’” Schwartz recalled.
Although she opposed altering Popular, Grande was receptive to other changes as long as they remained true to Glinda’s character. Schwartz shared how he suggested a new vocal ending for the song, initially met with hesitation by Grande. “I told her that if I had thought of it for the original show, this is how it would have been. Once she was reassured that this new bit of music was coming out of character, she was on board,” he explained.
Behind the Scenes of Popular and Defying Gravity
Cinematographer Alice Brooks provided additional insights into the creative process for Wicked’s musical numbers, particularly Popular and Defying Gravity. She highlighted the challenges of shooting Popular in a confined dorm room setting, which was the smallest set in the film.
“‘Popular’ is the first song we shot. The challenge was creating a huge, grand number within the confines of a tight, intimate dorm room,” Brooks explained.
Brooks also discussed her vision for the film’s lighting, saying, “The sun needs to always rise for Glinda and set for Elphaba. So Defying Gravity is one long sunset, and Popular is one long sunrise. We even added a skylight to the dorm’s dome ceiling so the sun could act as our spotlight.”
A Box Office Triumph
Directed by Jon M. Chu, Wicked part one stars Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. The film has been met with widespread acclaim and box office success. According to The Guardian, it debuted with $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally, marking a significant win for Universal Pictures.
Grande’s dedication to preserving the essence of her character, paired with the film’s innovative approach, has solidified Wicked as both a cinematic and musical triumph.
