The high-profile press tour for the anticipated film Wicked: For Good has hit a significant snag, as its star, Ariana Grande, has tested positive for Covid-19. The news forces the cancellation of several key promotional appearances in New York.
Promotional Schedule Disrupted
The Grammy award-winning and Oscar-nominated performer confirmed her diagnosis on social media. Grande posted an Instagram story on Thursday captioned "moments before Covid", accompanying a photo from her recent appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
As a result of the positive test, Grande, who plays Glinda in the second part of Jon M. Chu's film adaptation, will miss upcoming press commitments. This includes a scheduled slot on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
This is not the first time Covid has impacted the production. Both Grande and her co-star, Cynthia Erivo, previously contracted the virus during the filming of the first movie, which temporarily delayed production. Erivo reportedly fell ill just days before shooting the climactic number Defying Gravity, while Grande tested positive before filming the song Popular.
A Challenging Press Tour
Grande's positive test is the latest in a series of challenges that have marked the intensive global press tour for the film. The cast's hectic travel schedule was previously disrupted when flight delays prevented Grande from attending the premiere in Brazil, leading to fan disappointment which she addressed online.
The tour's stop in Singapore also saw a security incident where a man, identified as 26-year-old Australian national Johnson Wen, jumped a barricade and attempted to grab Grande. Erivo swiftly intervened, and security personnel restrained the man, who was later convicted of being a public nuisance and sentenced to nine days in jail.
Further complicating the New York premiere, both Grande and Erivo abstained from red carpet interviews after Erivo lost her voice. Grande chose to skip the interviews in a show of solidarity with her co-star.
Box Office Expectations Remain High
Despite these promotional setbacks, industry projections for Wicked: For Good are overwhelmingly positive. The film is tracking for a massive opening weekend, with estimates ranging between $150 million and $180 million from 4,000 North American theatres.
If these figures hold, the film would secure the biggest opening of the year, surpassing the performances of A Minecraft Movie ($162 million in April) and the Lilo & Stitch live-action remake ($146 million in May).
The first instalment, Wicked: Part One, was a monumental success, earning $758 million worldwide to become the most successful film adaptation of a Broadway musical in history. Both Grande and Erivo received Oscar nominations for their portrayals of the two unlikely best friends in this prequel to The Wizard of Oz.
In its review, the Guardian praised the film, noting Erivo as a "superstar among equals" and highlighting Grande's delicate performance as Glinda.
