From Personal Pain to Cinematic Magic
Ariana Grande delivered what many are calling the performance of her career in the Wicked films while navigating significant personal turmoil behind the scenes. The singer and actress filmed both Wicked and its sequel Wicked: For Good back-to-back during one of the most challenging periods of her personal life.
The Director's Perspective
According to director Jon M. Chu, known for Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights, Grande's real-life struggles directly contributed to the emotional depth of her portrayal of Glinda the Good Witch. "I got to watch her on days be upset in her real life and have to open up even more to deliver for us," Chu revealed in a recent profile with The New York Times.
Chu emphasised that Grande's vulnerability became her strength during filming. "She was not hiding anything from this camera," he stated, noting this approach is rare in an industry that often values polish over genuine emotion. The director expressed confidence that the "tumult" of Grande's personal life prepared her to handle the film's most emotionally demanding sequences.
Real-Life Drama Unfolding
During the intensive filming schedule, which began in December 2022 in London, Grande was navigating a very public divorce from husband Dalton Gomez. Sources indicated the couple had experienced difficulties before Grande departed for the Wicked shoot and attempted reconciliation during production.
Despite Gomez visiting the London set to work on their relationship, the marriage ultimately ended. The couple made their separation official in court in October 2023, after both initially filed the previous September, placing Grande squarely in the midst of personal turmoil while portraying the beloved character.
Compounding the personal challenges, Grande began a romance with her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater during filming. The relationship attracted significant media attention and public criticism. Slater, who plays Boq in the films, filed for divorce from his wife Lilly Jay in June 2023 after five years of marriage. The couple share a two-year-old son.
While both Grande and Slater maintain they were single when their relationship began, Slater's ex-wife publicly criticised the Boy Is Mine singer, calling her "not a girl's girl" and claiming her family became "collateral damage."
Looking Forward to Wicked: For Good
Audiences will have the opportunity to see more of Grande's emotionally charged performance when Wicked: For Good arrives in cinemas on 21 November 2025. The sequel will complete the prequel story and introduce beloved characters including Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman, and Cowardly Lion, portrayed by Colman Domingo.
The film also features Jonathan Bailey as Prince Fiyero and Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible. Chu has described the sequel as focusing on the central female characters, stating: "These girls, if you thought they were great in movie one, in movie two, they actually get to shatter the dream. They actually get to rebuild these characters."
Chu emphasised the emotional journey ahead: "They actually get to give them a wickedness and a goodness, and then have to forgive each other and be rebirthed into a new form. To me, this is the reason we made Wicked."
With serious Oscar buzz surrounding Grande's performance and the director's revelations about her emotional commitment during personal hardship, the Wicked films promise to deliver not just spectacular entertainment but a genuine piece of cinematic artistry born from real human experience.
