

Millie Bobby Brown didn’t have a normal childhood, and she’s getting candid about how being in the spotlight as a young star still affects her.
In Vanity Fair‘s latest cover story, published on Wednesday, Brown reflects on working on Netflix’s Stranger Things since she was 11 and how it impacted her. Specifically, she mentioned that shooting the hit series at such a young age restricted her from socially developing, as her castmates were distanced from others kids because they had school on set and became even more secluded when the pandemic hit in 2020.
“I don’t have many friends, because of who I am,” Brown reveals. “I didn’t go to school, so I don’t have the best social skills when it comes to people my own age and friendships. I struggle with that quite a bit. I missed out on a few things. But I’m working through them.
In Vanity Fair‘s latest cover story, published on Wednesday, Brown reflects on working on Netflix’s Stranger Things since she was 11 and how it impacted her. Specifically, she mentioned that shooting the hit series at such a young age restricted her from socially developing, as her castmates were distanced from others kids because they had school on set and became even more secluded when the pandemic hit in 2020.
“I don’t have many friends, because of who I am,” Brown reveals. “I didn’t go to school, so I don’t have the best social skills when it comes to people my own age and friendships. I struggle with that quite a bit. I missed out on a few things. But I’m working through them.
- 2/12/2025
- by Lexi Carson
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News

Millie Bobby Brown isn’t just a talented actress—she’s also a big musical theater fan. And when it comes to musicals, ‘Wicked‘ is one of her favorites.
“I’m a big musical girl,” Brown admits, and her love for Broadway found its way onto the Stranger Things set in a memorable way.
According to series co-creator Matt Duffer, Brown once requested a very specific musical moment while filming a scene. “She asked us to play ‘Defying Gravity’ while she was hovering midair in a harness so she could pretend to fly like Elphaba,” Duffer shared.
The moment was hilarious for the crew—not only because Brown was fully committed to her role-play, but also because she knew it would get under the Duffer brothers’ skin. “Not just because she loves the song, but because she knows it drives us a little crazy,” he added.
Related: ‘Wicked’ Is Seemingly...
“I’m a big musical girl,” Brown admits, and her love for Broadway found its way onto the Stranger Things set in a memorable way.
According to series co-creator Matt Duffer, Brown once requested a very specific musical moment while filming a scene. “She asked us to play ‘Defying Gravity’ while she was hovering midair in a harness so she could pretend to fly like Elphaba,” Duffer shared.
The moment was hilarious for the crew—not only because Brown was fully committed to her role-play, but also because she knew it would get under the Duffer brothers’ skin. “Not just because she loves the song, but because she knows it drives us a little crazy,” he added.
Related: ‘Wicked’ Is Seemingly...
- 2/12/2025
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon

Cynthia Erivo is wicked good, and GLAAD knows it.
The advocacy group said Wednesday that the Wicked star will receive its Stephen F. Kolzak Award, which is presented to a LGBTQ media professional who has made a significant difference in raising visibility and promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people and issues. The singer, actor and force for equity and inclusion will be lauded at the 36th annual GLAAD Media Awards on March 27 in Los Angeles.
Erivo’s much-honored career includes a Tony, Grammy and Daytime Emmy for 2016’s The Color Purple to go with a Primetime Emmy nomination and three Oscar noms. She is vying again in this year’s stacked Best Actress Oscar race for Wicked, and reprises her Elphaba role in the upcoming bookender Wicked: For Good, which hits theaters November 21.
Related: Breaking Baz: ‘Wicked’s Jon M. Chu On Unlocking The Musical For The Big Screen And How...
The advocacy group said Wednesday that the Wicked star will receive its Stephen F. Kolzak Award, which is presented to a LGBTQ media professional who has made a significant difference in raising visibility and promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people and issues. The singer, actor and force for equity and inclusion will be lauded at the 36th annual GLAAD Media Awards on March 27 in Los Angeles.
Erivo’s much-honored career includes a Tony, Grammy and Daytime Emmy for 2016’s The Color Purple to go with a Primetime Emmy nomination and three Oscar noms. She is vying again in this year’s stacked Best Actress Oscar race for Wicked, and reprises her Elphaba role in the upcoming bookender Wicked: For Good, which hits theaters November 21.
Related: Breaking Baz: ‘Wicked’s Jon M. Chu On Unlocking The Musical For The Big Screen And How...
- 2/12/2025
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Ariana Grande burned her "butt cheek" shortly before filming a key scene in 'Wicked'.The pop star - who is nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance as Glinda in movie-musical 'Wicked' - has confessed she injured herself during her lunch break and needed to have ice packs applied to her behind while she was shooting the 'Defying Gravity' sequence with co-star Cynthia Erivo, who was also thrown off after her meal included her most-hated vegetable.Speaking during a Q A with Variety at the Directors Guild of America , Ariana explained: "Long story short, we were filming 'Defying Gravity'. "And two things happened right before that shot. We had broken for lunch and for some reason that lunch had so many onions in it and Cynthia was like having a heart attack and also the steamer had burnt my butt cheek.
- 2/12/2025
- by Louise Mary Randell
- Bang Showbiz

With the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz” forever ingrained in pop culture history, seven-time Oscar-nominated production designer Nathan Crowley knew it was the necessary starting place to develop “Wicked.”
At the Variety FYC screening presented by Universal, Crowley told Clayton Davis, Variety’s senior awards editor, about his close collaboration with director Jon M. Chu, who recently won the Critics Choice Award for best director.
“He really wanted to push the design as far as he could into this magical place with building the sets. I love practical building when you’re with all the crew. Sometimes you’re in mud … I find it just overwhelmingly good fun.”
Marc Platt, the Oscar-nominated producer who received his third nomination this year for “Wicked,” following his work on both “La La Land” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” described this undertaking as his most personal project. When he read Gregory Maguire’s novel in the ’90s,...
At the Variety FYC screening presented by Universal, Crowley told Clayton Davis, Variety’s senior awards editor, about his close collaboration with director Jon M. Chu, who recently won the Critics Choice Award for best director.
“He really wanted to push the design as far as he could into this magical place with building the sets. I love practical building when you’re with all the crew. Sometimes you’re in mud … I find it just overwhelmingly good fun.”
Marc Platt, the Oscar-nominated producer who received his third nomination this year for “Wicked,” following his work on both “La La Land” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” described this undertaking as his most personal project. When he read Gregory Maguire’s novel in the ’90s,...
- 2/11/2025
- by Matt Minton
- Variety Film + TV


Gold Derby has been asking AI bots to predict the Oscars all throughout this season, and some of their choices have been, shall we say, curious. First, Gemini was convinced that Joker: Folie à Deux and its stars, Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, would all be nominees. Now, Meta’s AI has declared that controversy-prone Best Actress contender Karla Sofía Gascón is a “strong contender” to win the Oscar next month.
Gascón’s offensive social media posts about such topics as Muslims, George Floyd, and diversity at the Oscars were unearthed two weeks ago, causing the Emilia Pérez awards campaign to be derailed. As a result, she won’t be attending many of this season’s awards events, and she has issued a vow of “silence” to let her musical movie speak for itself.
She made history as the first openly transgender person ever nominated in Best Actress, and now...
Gascón’s offensive social media posts about such topics as Muslims, George Floyd, and diversity at the Oscars were unearthed two weeks ago, causing the Emilia Pérez awards campaign to be derailed. As a result, she won’t be attending many of this season’s awards events, and she has issued a vow of “silence” to let her musical movie speak for itself.
She made history as the first openly transgender person ever nominated in Best Actress, and now...
- 2/11/2025
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby


“Defying Gravity” is the defining moment of Wicked, serving as the showstopping climax to the movie musical that has racked up 10 Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture, editing, visual effects, and sound. Three of those nominees — film editor Myron Kerstein, visual effects supervisor Pablo Helman, and production sound mixer Simon Hayes — sat down with Gold Derby to spill the tea on “Defying Gravity,” explaining how the magical moment came together. Watch the full interview above.
“The outpouring of love [is] amazing,” says Kerstein of learning about his Oscar nod. Helman notes how the “big family” atmosphere of Wicked comes from the top with director Jon M. Chu. And Hayes recalls getting congratulatory texts from friends he hadn’t “seen for 30 years.”
The “Defying Gravity” song was performed live on set by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande (as Glinda the Good Witch), which provided its own unique challenges for the filmmaking team.
“The outpouring of love [is] amazing,” says Kerstein of learning about his Oscar nod. Helman notes how the “big family” atmosphere of Wicked comes from the top with director Jon M. Chu. And Hayes recalls getting congratulatory texts from friends he hadn’t “seen for 30 years.”
The “Defying Gravity” song was performed live on set by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande (as Glinda the Good Witch), which provided its own unique challenges for the filmmaking team.
- 2/10/2025
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby


On Monday February 10 2025, Travel broadcasts Mysteries of the Unknown!
Climbers of Leningrad, Defying Gravity and Washington’s Wild Card Season 9 Episode 2 Episode Summary
The upcoming episode of “Mysteries of the Unknown” titled “Climbers of Leningrad, Defying Gravity and Washington’s Wild Card” promises to be an intriguing journey into the past. Don Wildman, the show’s host, will explore remarkable artifacts that hold secrets to some of history’s biggest mysteries. This episode will take viewers on a fascinating adventure as Wildman seeks to uncover the stories behind these extraordinary items.
In this episode, the focus will be on the climbers of Leningrad, a group known for their daring feats and determination. Wildman will delve into their history, examining how they defied not just gravity, but also the challenges of their time. The episode will highlight their achievements and the impact they had on the world around them.
Additionally, the...
Climbers of Leningrad, Defying Gravity and Washington’s Wild Card Season 9 Episode 2 Episode Summary
The upcoming episode of “Mysteries of the Unknown” titled “Climbers of Leningrad, Defying Gravity and Washington’s Wild Card” promises to be an intriguing journey into the past. Don Wildman, the show’s host, will explore remarkable artifacts that hold secrets to some of history’s biggest mysteries. This episode will take viewers on a fascinating adventure as Wildman seeks to uncover the stories behind these extraordinary items.
In this episode, the focus will be on the climbers of Leningrad, a group known for their daring feats and determination. Wildman will delve into their history, examining how they defied not just gravity, but also the challenges of their time. The episode will highlight their achievements and the impact they had on the world around them.
Additionally, the...
- 2/10/2025
- by US Posts
- TV Regular

Wicked producer Marc Platt previewed this year’s Wicked: For Good while speaking about his Producer’s Guild Award-nominated first film on Saturday morning.
At the PGA’s annual breakfast panel for nominees for Theatrical Motion Picture, Platt, who also produced the Broadway show, said he envisioned Glinda as a figure like Robert F. Kennedy Sr., clarifying he means the ’60s politician and presidential candidate, not his son, the current nominee for health department secretary.
Platt said last year’s Wicked was mainly Elphaba’s (Cynthia Erivo) journey to give up the hope of belonging in order to speak truth to power, the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum). The film concludes with ‘Defying Gravity’, the act break in the stage musical. Wicked: For Good will show Glinda’s (Ariana Grande) growth, the way Rfk stepped up after his brother John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
“He was born to the manor,...
At the PGA’s annual breakfast panel for nominees for Theatrical Motion Picture, Platt, who also produced the Broadway show, said he envisioned Glinda as a figure like Robert F. Kennedy Sr., clarifying he means the ’60s politician and presidential candidate, not his son, the current nominee for health department secretary.
Platt said last year’s Wicked was mainly Elphaba’s (Cynthia Erivo) journey to give up the hope of belonging in order to speak truth to power, the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum). The film concludes with ‘Defying Gravity’, the act break in the stage musical. Wicked: For Good will show Glinda’s (Ariana Grande) growth, the way Rfk stepped up after his brother John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
“He was born to the manor,...
- 2/8/2025
- by Fred Topel
- Deadline Film + TV

Talk about a gargantuan task. The feature take on Broadway musical Wicked, which is split up into two theatrical releases, had a first cut that was close to four hours long. Part 1 of Jon M. Chu’s 10-times Oscar-nominated movie was whittled down to 2 hours and 40 minutes. How long Part 2 is still Tbd.
“It was a long movie,” Oscar-nominated editor Myron Kerstein said at Deadline’s Contenders Film: The Nominees virtual panel. “And then of course, the second movie that was also assembled, so were able to watch both parts at the same time to inform us, the bigger story we’re telling and whether it should be one or two movies.”
Kerstein added, “That first cut didn’t have ‘Defying Gravity’ due to the strike.” That’s the big show-stopping climax number from Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba.
Related: Contenders Film: The Nominees — Deadline’s Complete Coverage
Given that situation,...
“It was a long movie,” Oscar-nominated editor Myron Kerstein said at Deadline’s Contenders Film: The Nominees virtual panel. “And then of course, the second movie that was also assembled, so were able to watch both parts at the same time to inform us, the bigger story we’re telling and whether it should be one or two movies.”
Kerstein added, “That first cut didn’t have ‘Defying Gravity’ due to the strike.” That’s the big show-stopping climax number from Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba.
Related: Contenders Film: The Nominees — Deadline’s Complete Coverage
Given that situation,...
- 2/8/2025
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV

A column chronicling conversations and events on the awards circuit.
We are getting down to the wire, and this weekend could do much to clarify the true state of the Oscar race. By the time the Super Bowl rolls around on Sunday we will have the results of Friday’s delayed Critics Choice Awards (ballots were in on January 10 before the ceremony was postponed twice due to the wildfires); the all-important PGA awards; the DGA awards and even the Annie Awards in a particularly strong year for feature animation. And after all this, the Oscar ballots go live and voting begins for just one week on Tuesday, February 11, closing February 18. That’s a very tight window between nominations and a final verdict.
Oscar Voting On Speed Dial
I am not sure why the Academy needs 11 days to count the digital votes. SAG, for instance, closes balloting just two days before...
We are getting down to the wire, and this weekend could do much to clarify the true state of the Oscar race. By the time the Super Bowl rolls around on Sunday we will have the results of Friday’s delayed Critics Choice Awards (ballots were in on January 10 before the ceremony was postponed twice due to the wildfires); the all-important PGA awards; the DGA awards and even the Annie Awards in a particularly strong year for feature animation. And after all this, the Oscar ballots go live and voting begins for just one week on Tuesday, February 11, closing February 18. That’s a very tight window between nominations and a final verdict.
Oscar Voting On Speed Dial
I am not sure why the Academy needs 11 days to count the digital votes. SAG, for instance, closes balloting just two days before...
- 2/7/2025
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV

After the Los Angeles fires in late January, many awards events were canceled or pushed back. On Thursday, things seemingly got back under way with the annual AFI Top Ten awards lunch at the Four Seasons, which in effect stood in for the canceled Academy Nominees Lunch, as applause rippled across the room at the announcement of each of the ten film and TV winners and their clips.
Who got the most applause?
Nabbing a rousing standing ovation was L.A. firefighter Timmy Larson, representing the thousands of people who risked their lives to fight the raging fires just a few weeks ago. Next biggest? Harrison Ford, the only AFI Life Achievement Award winner, on hand for Apple TV+’s “Shrinking.” Adam Brody and Kristen Bell’s Netflix series “Nobody Wants This” had a noisy fanbase. And “Sing Sing” is clearly popular.
But at the end of the event, the last movie alphabetically was “Wicked,...
Who got the most applause?
Nabbing a rousing standing ovation was L.A. firefighter Timmy Larson, representing the thousands of people who risked their lives to fight the raging fires just a few weeks ago. Next biggest? Harrison Ford, the only AFI Life Achievement Award winner, on hand for Apple TV+’s “Shrinking.” Adam Brody and Kristen Bell’s Netflix series “Nobody Wants This” had a noisy fanbase. And “Sing Sing” is clearly popular.
But at the end of the event, the last movie alphabetically was “Wicked,...
- 2/7/2025
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire

The 2025 Oscars are set to start on a high note with a special performance by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as reported by Puck News. The two stars will open the ceremony with a medley from ‘Wicked,’ one of the most successful movie adaptations of the beloved Broadway musical.
While ‘Wicked’s’ songs aren’t eligible for Best Original Song at the Oscars, Grande and her co-star Cynthia Erivo said in the best they would love to perform at the ceremony. “Of course, we love singing with each other,” Grande said. “I’ll sing together absolutely anywhere anytime, especially in celebration of Wicked, and I love her, that’s my sister. Say the word and we’ll be there.”
Even though at this moment this is unconfirmed other industry insiders are reporting the same thing, some with disappointment.
The Academy decided not to feature performances of the Best Original Song...
While ‘Wicked’s’ songs aren’t eligible for Best Original Song at the Oscars, Grande and her co-star Cynthia Erivo said in the best they would love to perform at the ceremony. “Of course, we love singing with each other,” Grande said. “I’ll sing together absolutely anywhere anytime, especially in celebration of Wicked, and I love her, that’s my sister. Say the word and we’ll be there.”
Even though at this moment this is unconfirmed other industry insiders are reporting the same thing, some with disappointment.
The Academy decided not to feature performances of the Best Original Song...
- 2/7/2025
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon

The American Film Institute’s annual lunch celebrating the top 10 films and TV shows of the year took place on Thursday after a month-long delay because of the Los Angeles wildfires, serving as the kickoff to a restarted awards season that has been dormant when it comes to events though far from dormant when it comes to news.
And while there was no outright talk about the controversy that has rocked awards season for the past week, the AFI Awards lunch could be the beginning of a sad final month for “Emilia Pérez,” the film that seemed to be an Oscar Best Picture frontrunner until the disclosure of past racist and anti-Muslim tweets from star Kara Sofía Gascón threatened to wreck its campaign.
Or it could be the beginning of a comeback for the Netflix film, which was represented at the lunch by director Jacques Audiard, stars Zoe Saldaña, Edgar Ramirez...
And while there was no outright talk about the controversy that has rocked awards season for the past week, the AFI Awards lunch could be the beginning of a sad final month for “Emilia Pérez,” the film that seemed to be an Oscar Best Picture frontrunner until the disclosure of past racist and anti-Muslim tweets from star Kara Sofía Gascón threatened to wreck its campaign.
Or it could be the beginning of a comeback for the Netflix film, which was represented at the lunch by director Jacques Audiard, stars Zoe Saldaña, Edgar Ramirez...
- 2/7/2025
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap


When this year’s Oscar nominations were announced, Wicked costume designer Paul Tazewell was defying gravity thousands of feet in the air.
“I was actually on a plane coming from London, and I couldn’t get my wi-fi to work,” the Best Costume Design nominee tells Gold Derby (watch above). “I finally just gave up, and I dozed off for a bit. When I woke up, I was able to get on the wi-fi, and I saw all of the texts that had come through. I was so pleased!”
Tazewell continues on, “To have an epic film like Wicked acknowledged by my peers, by other people in the film community, and to receive the love of fans, that is beautiful. It’s hugely life-changing. Touching hearts is why I do what I do. So I take that on with celebration and with great meaning.”
Tazewell previously contended for the Best...
“I was actually on a plane coming from London, and I couldn’t get my wi-fi to work,” the Best Costume Design nominee tells Gold Derby (watch above). “I finally just gave up, and I dozed off for a bit. When I woke up, I was able to get on the wi-fi, and I saw all of the texts that had come through. I was so pleased!”
Tazewell continues on, “To have an epic film like Wicked acknowledged by my peers, by other people in the film community, and to receive the love of fans, that is beautiful. It’s hugely life-changing. Touching hearts is why I do what I do. So I take that on with celebration and with great meaning.”
Tazewell previously contended for the Best...
- 2/6/2025
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby


Billie Eilish interviewed Ariana Grande last night after a screening of Wicked at the Directors Guild of America’s theater in Los Angeles. The Q&a, held for Academy and guild members, saw the singers sharing their mutual fandom.
“My team was like: Who would be a cool person to do this? Who’s your dream person?” Grande explaining of the pairing (via Variety). “I was like, Billie, [but] she’s not gonna say yes. She’s too busy. She’s too fabulous. It’s too much. But she said yes,...
“My team was like: Who would be a cool person to do this? Who’s your dream person?” Grande explaining of the pairing (via Variety). “I was like, Billie, [but] she’s not gonna say yes. She’s too busy. She’s too fabulous. It’s too much. But she said yes,...
- 2/5/2025
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com

No one lauds the “Wicked” quite like Billie Eilish — at least when she is in full Ariana Grande-fangirl mode, as she was in interviewing her longtime singing heroine after a screening of the movie musical in Hollywood on Tuesday night. The Q&a, held for SAG members at the Directors Guild of America’s theater, had Eilish doing the moderating at the personal behest of the film’s Oscar-nominated Glinda.
“My team was like, ‘Who would be a cool person to do this? Who’s your dream person?'” Grande said at the outset. “I was like, ‘Billie, [but] she’s not gonna say yes.’ She’s too busy. She’s too fabulous. It’s too much. But she said ‘Yes,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, shit. Now I’m so nervous.'”
Eilish piped up with her youthful-worship credentials. “I love this girl so much and I love this...
“My team was like, ‘Who would be a cool person to do this? Who’s your dream person?'” Grande said at the outset. “I was like, ‘Billie, [but] she’s not gonna say yes.’ She’s too busy. She’s too fabulous. It’s too much. But she said ‘Yes,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, shit. Now I’m so nervous.'”
Eilish piped up with her youthful-worship credentials. “I love this girl so much and I love this...
- 2/5/2025
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV

Final voting is February 11-18. The 97th Oscars telecast will be broadcast on Sunday, March 2 and air live on ABC at 7 p.m. Et/ 4 p.m. Pt. We update our picks throughout awards season, so keep checking IndieWire for all our 2025 Oscar predictions.
The State of the Race
The Best Original Score nominees are “The Brutalist,” “Conclave,” Emilia Pérez,” “Wicked,” and “The Wild Robot.” Daniel Blumberg’s score for “The Brutalist” is the favorite for his unnerving “slabs of sound,” but Volker Bertelmann could win his second consecutive Oscar for “Conclave,” and “Wicked” could also be triumphant for its immense popularity.
For “The Brutalist,” Brady Corbet’s VisaVision epic, about the struggle to build an institute in post-World War II Pennsylvania, starring Oscar-nominated Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce, the director tapped experimental composer Blumberg for his second score. Envisioning the score as “slabs of sound,” the music developed into a...
The State of the Race
The Best Original Score nominees are “The Brutalist,” “Conclave,” Emilia Pérez,” “Wicked,” and “The Wild Robot.” Daniel Blumberg’s score for “The Brutalist” is the favorite for his unnerving “slabs of sound,” but Volker Bertelmann could win his second consecutive Oscar for “Conclave,” and “Wicked” could also be triumphant for its immense popularity.
For “The Brutalist,” Brady Corbet’s VisaVision epic, about the struggle to build an institute in post-World War II Pennsylvania, starring Oscar-nominated Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce, the director tapped experimental composer Blumberg for his second score. Envisioning the score as “slabs of sound,” the music developed into a...
- 2/4/2025
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire

Final voting is February 11-18. The 97th Oscars telecast will be broadcast on Sunday, March 2, and air live on ABC at 7 p.m. Et/ 4 p.m. Pt. We update our picks throughout awards season, so keep checking IndieWire for all our 2025 Oscar predictions.
The State of the Race
The Best Sound Oscar nominees are “A Complete Unknown,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Emilia Pérez,” “Wicked” and “The Wild Robot.” “Wicked” is the favorite in a field with two other strong musical entries (“A Complete Unknown” and “Emilia Pérez”), but “Dune: Part Two” poses a threat as well.
Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked” tells the origin story of Elphaba/the Wicked Witch (Oscar-nominated Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda/Glinda the Good Witch (Oscar-nominated Ariana Grande). The sound team was led by Simon Hayes, Nancy Nugent Title, Jack Dolman, Andy Nelson, and John Marquis. They recorded all of the solo musical performances live on-set (allowing...
The State of the Race
The Best Sound Oscar nominees are “A Complete Unknown,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Emilia Pérez,” “Wicked” and “The Wild Robot.” “Wicked” is the favorite in a field with two other strong musical entries (“A Complete Unknown” and “Emilia Pérez”), but “Dune: Part Two” poses a threat as well.
Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked” tells the origin story of Elphaba/the Wicked Witch (Oscar-nominated Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda/Glinda the Good Witch (Oscar-nominated Ariana Grande). The sound team was led by Simon Hayes, Nancy Nugent Title, Jack Dolman, Andy Nelson, and John Marquis. They recorded all of the solo musical performances live on-set (allowing...
- 2/3/2025
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire

Taylor Swift has offered Cynthia Erivo her seat at the 67th annual Grammys. This is something fans loved seeing. The two are an iconic duo that fans did not know they needed in their lives. However, Taylor has extended a hand to the Wicked star. Keep reading to find out more about this situation.
67th Annual Grammys Brings Lots Of Attention
The 67th annual Grammys has brought a lot of attention. First, fans were unsure if they were going to get to see the Grammys. This is due to the fact that they thought they were going to be postponed because of the fires in Los Angeles. However, this was not the case. There are so many celebrities there that fans love seeing. Taylor Swift, Cynthia Erivo, Beyonce, Shakira, Sabrina Carpenter, and so many more. Taylor has been the center of attention when it comes to Swifites. There is speculation...
67th Annual Grammys Brings Lots Of Attention
The 67th annual Grammys has brought a lot of attention. First, fans were unsure if they were going to get to see the Grammys. This is due to the fact that they thought they were going to be postponed because of the fires in Los Angeles. However, this was not the case. There are so many celebrities there that fans love seeing. Taylor Swift, Cynthia Erivo, Beyonce, Shakira, Sabrina Carpenter, and so many more. Taylor has been the center of attention when it comes to Swifites. There is speculation...
- 2/3/2025
- by Hailee Dent
- TV Shows Ace


In the upcoming episode of “Mysteries of the Unknown,” titled “Climbers of Leningrad, Defying Gravity and Washington’s Wild Card,” Don Wildman takes viewers on an intriguing journey through history. This episode, airing at 8:00 Pm on Monday, February 10, 2025, promises to uncover extraordinary artifacts that hold the keys to some of history’s greatest mysteries.
As Don explores the story of climbers in Leningrad, he dives deep into the challenges they faced and the remarkable feats they accomplished. The episode reveals how these climbers defied gravity in their pursuit of adventure and discovery. Viewers will learn about the harsh conditions and the spirit of perseverance that defined their journeys.
In addition to the Leningrad climbers, the episode also tackles Washington’s wild card, delving into lesser-known historical events that shaped the nation. Don Wildman’s engaging storytelling and keen insights will guide audiences through these fascinating tales, making history feel alive and relevant.
As Don explores the story of climbers in Leningrad, he dives deep into the challenges they faced and the remarkable feats they accomplished. The episode reveals how these climbers defied gravity in their pursuit of adventure and discovery. Viewers will learn about the harsh conditions and the spirit of perseverance that defined their journeys.
In addition to the Leningrad climbers, the episode also tackles Washington’s wild card, delving into lesser-known historical events that shaped the nation. Don Wildman’s engaging storytelling and keen insights will guide audiences through these fascinating tales, making history feel alive and relevant.
- 2/2/2025
- by Jules Byrd
- TV Everyday

Nominations voting is from January 8-17, 2025, with official Oscar nominations announced January 23, 2025. Final voting is February 11-18, 2025. And finally, the 97th Oscars telecast will be broadcast on Sunday, March 2 and air live on ABC at 7:00 p.m. Et/ 4:00 p.m. Pt. We update our picks through awards season, so keep checking IndieWire for all our 2025 Oscar predictions.
The State of the Race
Whatever relief was felt from an up-in-the-air Best Actress race finally landing on five names has been lost due to the messiness around online Oscar campaigning, and what has been dredged up about some of the nominees.
Specifically “Emilia Pérez” star Karla Sofía Gascón, who seems to have an endless trove of offensive tweets that she has only somewhat apologized for. As cynical one can be about Academy member’s getting defensive about their relationship to films that receive backlash, it is fair to say that...
The State of the Race
Whatever relief was felt from an up-in-the-air Best Actress race finally landing on five names has been lost due to the messiness around online Oscar campaigning, and what has been dredged up about some of the nominees.
Specifically “Emilia Pérez” star Karla Sofía Gascón, who seems to have an endless trove of offensive tweets that she has only somewhat apologized for. As cynical one can be about Academy member’s getting defensive about their relationship to films that receive backlash, it is fair to say that...
- 2/1/2025
- by Marcus Jones
- Indiewire

Final voting is February 11-18. The 97th Oscars telecast will be broadcast on Sunday, March 2, and air live on ABC at 7 p.m. Et/ 4 p.m. Pt. We update our picks throughout awards season, so keep checking IndieWire for all our 2025 Oscar predictions.
The State of the Race
The Best Editing Oscar nominees are “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” “Conclave,” “Emilia Pérez,” and “Wicked.” “Conclave” is the favorite as a dark and moody Vatican conspiracy thriller, with “The Brutalist” gathering momentum for its epic drama about the struggle of post-Holocaust immigrants.
“Conclave,” Edward Berger’s follow-up to “All Quiet on the Western Front,” concerns the selection of a new pope at the Vatican in an interior battlefield within the sequestered conclave of the Sistine Chapel. Cardinal Lawrence (Oscar-nominated Ralph Fiennes) administers the ritual while dealing with a crisis of faith. This becomes exacerbated by his discovery of corruption and conspiracy within the Vatican,...
The State of the Race
The Best Editing Oscar nominees are “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” “Conclave,” “Emilia Pérez,” and “Wicked.” “Conclave” is the favorite as a dark and moody Vatican conspiracy thriller, with “The Brutalist” gathering momentum for its epic drama about the struggle of post-Holocaust immigrants.
“Conclave,” Edward Berger’s follow-up to “All Quiet on the Western Front,” concerns the selection of a new pope at the Vatican in an interior battlefield within the sequestered conclave of the Sistine Chapel. Cardinal Lawrence (Oscar-nominated Ralph Fiennes) administers the ritual while dealing with a crisis of faith. This becomes exacerbated by his discovery of corruption and conspiracy within the Vatican,...
- 1/31/2025
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire


The hit movie musical Wicked is landing on physical media, including 4K Blu-ray in March. Details below.
Were you too embarrassed to sing out ‘Popular’ in a packed-out screening of Jon M Chu’s Wicked? Did you get dirty looks in the cinema for belting out ‘Defying Gravity’ despite Cynthia Erivo encouraging you to do so? Were you shushed for jamming out to ‘Dancing Through Life’?
Well, you can soon sing your heart out at home as Wicked arrives on physical media in March. The hit musical was previously listed for physical media release in February, but that date has now been pushed to 10th March, it seems.
The film tells the story of Glinda and Elphaba, years before they’d be known as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch Of The West. Wicked, or Wicked Part I, only tells half the story, with Wicked: For Good arriving on...
Were you too embarrassed to sing out ‘Popular’ in a packed-out screening of Jon M Chu’s Wicked? Did you get dirty looks in the cinema for belting out ‘Defying Gravity’ despite Cynthia Erivo encouraging you to do so? Were you shushed for jamming out to ‘Dancing Through Life’?
Well, you can soon sing your heart out at home as Wicked arrives on physical media in March. The hit musical was previously listed for physical media release in February, but that date has now been pushed to 10th March, it seems.
The film tells the story of Glinda and Elphaba, years before they’d be known as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch Of The West. Wicked, or Wicked Part I, only tells half the story, with Wicked: For Good arriving on...
- 1/31/2025
- by Maria Lattila
- Film Stories

Stop everything if you haven't seen the "Wicked" musical, read Gregory Maguire's novel "Wicked," or just generally don't know anything about what could happen in "Wicked: For Good." Major spoilers lie ahead!!!
At the end of 2024, Jon M. Chu's film adaptation of the Broadway stage musical "Wicked" — which itself is adapted from Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" — released the first half of the story, blowing critics and audiences away and absolutely crushing the box office. Now, fans have to wait until November of this year to see how the story concludes ... but if you have any familiarity with the musical, you might know what's coming.
"Wicked: Part One" introduces us to Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), a young woman who aspires to become a powerful sorceress after she accidentally ends up enrolled at Shiz University with her sister Nessarose...
At the end of 2024, Jon M. Chu's film adaptation of the Broadway stage musical "Wicked" — which itself is adapted from Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" — released the first half of the story, blowing critics and audiences away and absolutely crushing the box office. Now, fans have to wait until November of this year to see how the story concludes ... but if you have any familiarity with the musical, you might know what's coming.
"Wicked: Part One" introduces us to Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), a young woman who aspires to become a powerful sorceress after she accidentally ends up enrolled at Shiz University with her sister Nessarose...
- 1/26/2025
- by Nina Starner
- Slash Film

When it was first announced that Jon M. Chu, the director behind movies like "Crazy Rich Asians" and "In the Heights," would adapt Stephen Schwartz's hit Broadway musical "Wicked," news broke shortly thereafter that the movie would be split into two parts. On some level, it does make sense to split "Wicked" in half, giving it a cinematic two-act structure that mimics the stage version. With all of that said the movies were originally called "Wicked: Part One" and "Wicked: Part Two," and Part One soared into theaters in November 2024, crushing the box office and earning rave reviews from critics. Then, in December of that year, Chu revealed that the second part of the epic film will actually be called "Wicked: For Good," taking its title from an earnest duet sung by Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo) and her best friend turned political enemy Glinda the Good Witch (Ariana Grande-Butera) in the show's second act.
- 1/25/2025
- by Nina Starner
- Slash Film

Massive, massive spoilers for Act 2 of the Broadway musical "Wicked" — which is being adapted into "Wicked: For Good" — lie ahead! Stop reading if you want to avoid spoilers!
In the 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz," Judy Garland's Dorothy Gale is flanked by three companions as she travels down the yellow brick road to meet the Wizard of Oz. These friends and protectors are known as the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), and the Tin Man (Jack Haley), and while Dorothy wants to ask the Wizard to send her home, the Lion, Scarecrow, and Tin Man have agendas of their own. The Lion wants to ask him for courage, the Scarecrow would really love a brain, and as for the Tin Man, he simply wants a working heart.
You're probably familiar with these characters because, well, "The Wizard of Oz" is one of the most famous movies...
In the 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz," Judy Garland's Dorothy Gale is flanked by three companions as she travels down the yellow brick road to meet the Wizard of Oz. These friends and protectors are known as the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), and the Tin Man (Jack Haley), and while Dorothy wants to ask the Wizard to send her home, the Lion, Scarecrow, and Tin Man have agendas of their own. The Lion wants to ask him for courage, the Scarecrow would really love a brain, and as for the Tin Man, he simply wants a working heart.
You're probably familiar with these characters because, well, "The Wizard of Oz" is one of the most famous movies...
- 1/25/2025
- by Nina Starner
- Slash Film

The nominations for the upcoming Oscars 2025 aka 97th Academy Awards have finally been released, and they are as satisfying and baffling at the same time as ever. The nominees, for one, have shared their respective reactions to their nominations as well, including the likes of Sebastian Stan and Monica Barbaro, among others.
Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez. | Credits: A Complete Unknown / Searchlight Pictures
But while a lot of the nominations have left both the fans as well as the nominees happy, quite a few of them have left both fans and the nominees stunned because of the snubs. This includes Josh Brolin, who clearly isn’t okay with the Dune: Part 2 disaster since he has been expressing frustration about the same without hesitation.
Sebastian Stan and other stars share their reactions to Oscars’25 nominations
As the 97th Academy Awards draw closer, the nominees have shared their reactions to getting nominated.
Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez. | Credits: A Complete Unknown / Searchlight Pictures
But while a lot of the nominations have left both the fans as well as the nominees happy, quite a few of them have left both fans and the nominees stunned because of the snubs. This includes Josh Brolin, who clearly isn’t okay with the Dune: Part 2 disaster since he has been expressing frustration about the same without hesitation.
Sebastian Stan and other stars share their reactions to Oscars’25 nominations
As the 97th Academy Awards draw closer, the nominees have shared their reactions to getting nominated.
- 1/24/2025
- by Mahin Sultan
- FandomWire

Ariana Grande Oscar Nomination, Wicked Glinda (Photo Credit – Instagram)
Ariana Grande has officially joined the ranks of Academy Award nominees, securing her first-ever Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actress.
The 31-year-old singer and actress earned the nomination for her role as Glinda in Wicked, sharing the spotlight with other fellow nominees such as Monica Barbaro for ‘A Complete Unknown,’ Felicity Jones for ‘The Brutalist,’ Isabella Rossellini for ‘Conclave,’ and Zoe Saldaña for her role in ‘Emilia Pérez.’
Ariana Grande’s Emotional Celebration and Gratitude
Grande took to social media to express her heartfelt gratitude, sharing a nostalgic photo of herself as a child dressed like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz and an undated clip of her singing “Defying Gravity.”
“picking my head up in between sobs to say thank you so much to @theacademy for this unfathomable recognition. I cannot stop crying, to no one’s surprise,” Grande wrote...
Ariana Grande has officially joined the ranks of Academy Award nominees, securing her first-ever Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actress.
The 31-year-old singer and actress earned the nomination for her role as Glinda in Wicked, sharing the spotlight with other fellow nominees such as Monica Barbaro for ‘A Complete Unknown,’ Felicity Jones for ‘The Brutalist,’ Isabella Rossellini for ‘Conclave,’ and Zoe Saldaña for her role in ‘Emilia Pérez.’
Ariana Grande’s Emotional Celebration and Gratitude
Grande took to social media to express her heartfelt gratitude, sharing a nostalgic photo of herself as a child dressed like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz and an undated clip of her singing “Defying Gravity.”
“picking my head up in between sobs to say thank you so much to @theacademy for this unfathomable recognition. I cannot stop crying, to no one’s surprise,” Grande wrote...
- 1/24/2025
- by Arunava Chakrabarty
- KoiMoi

This year’s Academy Awards season is set to become one of the most interesting and tightly contested seasons in the past few years. Everything from amazing biopics to genre roles has been delivered, and audiences have seen some amazing works from actresses within all categories.
It seems that besides showing the nominees’ performances and technicalities, the 2025 Oscar race is going to highlight their social and cultural influence and there will probably be some conversations that take place off the red carpet.
Demi Moore wins Best Female Actor for Musical/Comedy at Golden Globes 2025 | Credit: Golden Globes YouTube
The latest event of the Golden Globes has already created a sort of precedent. And as we get closer to the award night itself, the talk of who will win the golden statue is already rising. The line-up of this year’s race has industry veterans and new, ambitious faces. Let’s...
It seems that besides showing the nominees’ performances and technicalities, the 2025 Oscar race is going to highlight their social and cultural influence and there will probably be some conversations that take place off the red carpet.
Demi Moore wins Best Female Actor for Musical/Comedy at Golden Globes 2025 | Credit: Golden Globes YouTube
The latest event of the Golden Globes has already created a sort of precedent. And as we get closer to the award night itself, the talk of who will win the golden statue is already rising. The line-up of this year’s race has industry veterans and new, ambitious faces. Let’s...
- 1/24/2025
- by Bibon Sinha
- FandomWire

What's your favorite season? Why, Awards, of course! Yes, the time has come yet again for everyone to treat movies like sports. Who will win? Who will lose? We'll find out when the 97th Academy Awards are held on March 2, 2025! For now, though, we have the full list of Best Picture nominees to grapple with. As always, there are snubs and surprises, and I'm sure everyone has an opinion about what landed a nom and what got overlooked. For the purposes of this post, though, we're only looking at what we've been given: ten films from the year 2024. In the spirit of the season, we're ranking all ten Best Picture nominees from worst to best.
Read more: The 19 Greatest Movie Couples Of All Time Ranked
10. Emilia Pérez
If you've seen the viral clip of the song "La Vaginoplastia" making the rounds on social media, you already know that no other...
Read more: The 19 Greatest Movie Couples Of All Time Ranked
10. Emilia Pérez
If you've seen the viral clip of the song "La Vaginoplastia" making the rounds on social media, you already know that no other...
- 1/23/2025
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film

The Oscar nominations were tense as always, with many of the best actors alive going head-to-head for the biggest prizes. Names like Timothée Chalamet, Adrien Brody, and Edward Norton were called out as returning nominees. Meanwhile, Demi Moore, Mikey Madison, and Kieran Culkin were welcomed to the club. Below, we’ve ranked the performances of the 2025 Oscar nominees based on the quality of the performances.
20. Felicity Jones – The Brutalist 2025 Oscar Nominees Ranked
While the second half of The Brutalist certainly has its defenders, those who struggle with it can often point to Jones. The actress brings a very modern air to a period-set film. Additionally, she feels wrong in the role, overacting and pushing too far in several scenes. We like Jones well enough, but in The Brutalist it does not work.
19. Isabella Rossellini – Conclave 2025 Oscar Nominees Ranked
One of the most iconic movie stars of all time was the beneficiary of a weak lineup.
20. Felicity Jones – The Brutalist 2025 Oscar Nominees Ranked
While the second half of The Brutalist certainly has its defenders, those who struggle with it can often point to Jones. The actress brings a very modern air to a period-set film. Additionally, she feels wrong in the role, overacting and pushing too far in several scenes. We like Jones well enough, but in The Brutalist it does not work.
19. Isabella Rossellini – Conclave 2025 Oscar Nominees Ranked
One of the most iconic movie stars of all time was the beneficiary of a weak lineup.
- 1/23/2025
- by Alan French
- FandomWire


If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
They say the lights are always bright on Broadway, but from January 21 to February 9, we think they shine even brighter. That’s because for the 15th year in a row, Broadway Week is back — which means you can score 2-for-1 deals to the hottest tickets in town.
buy 2-for-1 tickets
Right now, 27 different shows are participating in the Bogo campaign — including contemporary productions like Sunset Blvd, & Juliet, Death Becomes Her,...
They say the lights are always bright on Broadway, but from January 21 to February 9, we think they shine even brighter. That’s because for the 15th year in a row, Broadway Week is back — which means you can score 2-for-1 deals to the hottest tickets in town.
buy 2-for-1 tickets
Right now, 27 different shows are participating in the Bogo campaign — including contemporary productions like Sunset Blvd, & Juliet, Death Becomes Her,...
- 1/22/2025
- by Alexis Mikulski Ruiz
- Rollingstone.com

Stop your journey down the yellow brick road if you don't yet know the entire story of "Wicked" — there are spoilers ahead!
When we first meet Galinda Upland — played by pop star and actor Ariana Grande-Butera — in Jon M. Chu's epic musical adaptation "Wicked: Part One," she's a new student at Shiz University who's desperate to prove herself, especially to the school's Dean of Sorcery Madam Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). There's just one problem: Galinda doesn't have a particularly strong natural inclination towards sorcery or witchcraft, and to make matters worse, her new roommate, the green-skinned Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), does possess an innate affinity for the magical arts.
So, what's the deal here? Why isn't Galinda, who ultimately restyles her name as Glinda, a naturally talented witch — and to that point, how does somebody who apparently can't perform magic become known as Glinda the Good Witch? (At the beginning of "Wicked: Part One,...
When we first meet Galinda Upland — played by pop star and actor Ariana Grande-Butera — in Jon M. Chu's epic musical adaptation "Wicked: Part One," she's a new student at Shiz University who's desperate to prove herself, especially to the school's Dean of Sorcery Madam Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). There's just one problem: Galinda doesn't have a particularly strong natural inclination towards sorcery or witchcraft, and to make matters worse, her new roommate, the green-skinned Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), does possess an innate affinity for the magical arts.
So, what's the deal here? Why isn't Galinda, who ultimately restyles her name as Glinda, a naturally talented witch — and to that point, how does somebody who apparently can't perform magic become known as Glinda the Good Witch? (At the beginning of "Wicked: Part One,...
- 1/21/2025
- by Nina Starner
- Slash Film

Two original songs will be added to Wicked: For Good, but these won't do much to level out this sequel's disadvantage. Director Jon M. Chu chose to split the Wicked musical into two parts for his on-screen adaptation, ensuring that every detail of Elphaba and Glinda's stories is done justice. While this proved to be an excellent choice for the first film, the second half, officially called Wicked: For Good, is at a bit of a disadvantage thanks to some differences in the Broadway musical's second act. The addition of new songs is promising, but there is one particular issue that this won't help.
Many of Wicked's most notable songs are in the Broadway show's first act. While there are certainly some bangers in Act 2, such as "No Good Deed" and "For Good," they pack a different sort of punch than "Defying Gravity" or "What Is This Feeling.
Many of Wicked's most notable songs are in the Broadway show's first act. While there are certainly some bangers in Act 2, such as "No Good Deed" and "For Good," they pack a different sort of punch than "Defying Gravity" or "What Is This Feeling.
- 1/20/2025
- by Angel Shaw
- ScreenRant


The new comedy One of Them Days, starring Keke Palmer and Sza, is now in theaters and getting incredible reviews.
In the new movies, best friends and roommates Dreux and Alyssa are about to have One of Them Days. When they discover Alyssa’s boyfriend has blown their rent money, the duo finds themselves going to extremes in a comical race against the clock to avoid eviction and keep their friendship intact.
Fans who are checking out the movie will likely want to know if they should stick around after the credits for an additional scene. Many movies these days, especially ones that are part of a franchise, will include extra footage at the end to tease future installments or to give audiences some bonus content.
So, do you need to stick around after One of Them Days?
Keep reading to find out if you need to wait for a post-credits scene…...
In the new movies, best friends and roommates Dreux and Alyssa are about to have One of Them Days. When they discover Alyssa’s boyfriend has blown their rent money, the duo finds themselves going to extremes in a comical race against the clock to avoid eviction and keep their friendship intact.
Fans who are checking out the movie will likely want to know if they should stick around after the credits for an additional scene. Many movies these days, especially ones that are part of a franchise, will include extra footage at the end to tease future installments or to give audiences some bonus content.
So, do you need to stick around after One of Them Days?
Keep reading to find out if you need to wait for a post-credits scene…...
- 1/17/2025
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared


Keke Palmer has one of the most interesting takes on “Defying Gravity” from Wicked!
The 31-year-old actress said in a new interview that she thinks Elphaba’s big song is a “slave hymn.”
“Uh-aaahh-uh-aaahhahhhahhh!!” Keke said in a new MTV interview. “That’s a slave hymn.”
Keep reading to find out why she said that…
“Come on! When she got up there and she told those people! Y’all, it is really good,” Keke added. “Y’all know I ain’t lying.”
“You have got to save space for the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity,’” she added, noting the viral interview with the movie’s stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
Keke added, “That — it makes me feel like you can’t stop me! No one is gonna bring me down!” she professed.
Keke‘s One of Them Days co-star Sza and producer Issa Rae were shook by the comment. Watch below!
The 31-year-old actress said in a new interview that she thinks Elphaba’s big song is a “slave hymn.”
“Uh-aaahh-uh-aaahhahhhahhh!!” Keke said in a new MTV interview. “That’s a slave hymn.”
Keep reading to find out why she said that…
“Come on! When she got up there and she told those people! Y’all, it is really good,” Keke added. “Y’all know I ain’t lying.”
“You have got to save space for the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity,’” she added, noting the viral interview with the movie’s stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
Keke added, “That — it makes me feel like you can’t stop me! No one is gonna bring me down!” she professed.
Keke‘s One of Them Days co-star Sza and producer Issa Rae were shook by the comment. Watch below!
- 1/17/2025
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared


The fact that Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo sang live in Jon M. Chu’s Wicked has wowed fans (yes, Erivo belted while whizzing through the air during “Defying Gravity” and Grande didn’t rely on pre-records while swinging on a chandelier during “Popular”).
But allowing the film’s two leads to go live — on which Chu and the actors insisted to capture the spirit of the Broadway musical — took a village. The sound teams had to work with the choreographers, production designers, costume department and stunt teams, among others, to make sure that the microphones didn’t pick up any noise that would hinder a clear recording of the vocals.
“From the first moment Jon and I met on Zoom, he said, ‘I really feel like we have to go live, but I’m worried — I’ve got three cameras on cranes, some of the sets are 50 feet tall.
But allowing the film’s two leads to go live — on which Chu and the actors insisted to capture the spirit of the Broadway musical — took a village. The sound teams had to work with the choreographers, production designers, costume department and stunt teams, among others, to make sure that the microphones didn’t pick up any noise that would hinder a clear recording of the vocals.
“From the first moment Jon and I met on Zoom, he said, ‘I really feel like we have to go live, but I’m worried — I’ve got three cameras on cranes, some of the sets are 50 feet tall.
- 1/13/2025
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News

Jon M. Chu’s Wicked was among the most popular and acclaimed movies of 2024, and one of its clearest strengths as a musical is the rich, intricate dance numbers that constantly help push the story forward. There are eleven songs in total in Wicked, and each one serves a specific purpose regarding the characters and their respective journeys. Songs like “Popular” and “What Is This Feeling” help develop the dynamic between Elphaba and Glinda, while songs such as “One Short Day” and “Something Bad” expand the history of Oz and push the narrative forward.
The majority of these songs come with large-scale dance numbers that pay homage to the original stage musical while changing things slightly for a more cinematic experience. Chu does an excellent job of bringing a new life to these songs, referencing the source material through his choreography and even foreshadowing things that will happen in Wicked: For Good.
The majority of these songs come with large-scale dance numbers that pay homage to the original stage musical while changing things slightly for a more cinematic experience. Chu does an excellent job of bringing a new life to these songs, referencing the source material through his choreography and even foreshadowing things that will happen in Wicked: For Good.
- 1/11/2025
- by Jack Walters
- ScreenRant

Exclusive: Wicked production sound mixer Simon Hayes says Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande’s Glinda in the musical extravaganza, has the prowess of an Olympian, which enabled his team to achieve vastly more than they’d expected.
When Hayes and his unit were setting up microphones for the dynamic tour de force number “Defying Gravity” that sees Erivo soar away on a broomstick, they figured that the star would have to stop to catch her breath while doing somersaults for Universal’s hit picture.
Erivo had three microphones on her: a personal mic on the center of her forehead, another fixed on the brim of her hat and one placed on her costume.
“What we didn’t realize was that Cynthia would be able to do these gymnastic movements and still sing perfectly. It didn’t faze her in any way,” he marvels.
Related: Jon M. Chu...
When Hayes and his unit were setting up microphones for the dynamic tour de force number “Defying Gravity” that sees Erivo soar away on a broomstick, they figured that the star would have to stop to catch her breath while doing somersaults for Universal’s hit picture.
Erivo had three microphones on her: a personal mic on the center of her forehead, another fixed on the brim of her hat and one placed on her costume.
“What we didn’t realize was that Cynthia would be able to do these gymnastic movements and still sing perfectly. It didn’t faze her in any way,” he marvels.
Related: Jon M. Chu...
- 1/10/2025
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV

Wicked director Jon M. Chu explained why the title of the upcoming sequel was changed. After the praise the first movie has received, anticipation is high for the upcoming Wicked: For Good. The sequel was originally simply titled Wicked: Part Two before the change. The follow-up will pick up not long after the ending of Wicked, and will once again star Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande-Butera, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum. However, the reaction to the title change has been mixed, with some people not finding the appeal of the "For Good" part.
In an interview with Variety, Chu revealed that the subtitle "For Good" was always written in the script for the second Wicked movie. Therefore, the director explained that he and the producers had to decide whether they wanted the sequel to be called Wicked: Part Two. Ultimately, they decided to change the title. Chu believes that...
In an interview with Variety, Chu revealed that the subtitle "For Good" was always written in the script for the second Wicked movie. Therefore, the director explained that he and the producers had to decide whether they wanted the sequel to be called Wicked: Part Two. Ultimately, they decided to change the title. Chu believes that...
- 1/9/2025
- by Max Ruscinski
- ScreenRant
Jon M. Chu has insisted 'Wicked: For Good' was "always" the right name for his sequel.The 45-year-old director has opened about his decision to give 'Wicked: Part Two' a different name, which directly references the Broadway musical's penultimate song.Speaking to Variety at the National Board of Review Awards this week, he said: "Who wants a movie called ‘Wicked: Part Two’?“On the script, it always said, ‘For Good,’ and so it was just a point of like, ‘Do we really want to call this “Part Two”?’"And nobody wants that.”Chu - who has also helmed the likes of 'Crazy Rich Asians' and 'In The Heights' - insisted no other film titles were considered for the follow-up, which is coming to the big screen later this year.He added: "I mean, that’s the destination. ‘For Good,’ we know, is like, ‘Where are we going with this movie?...
- 1/9/2025
- by Alistair McGeorge
- Bang Showbiz

The future of the Flying Monkeys is one of the biggest questions after the end of the first Wicked movie, and here is why they will start working for Elphaba in Wicked: For Good after being her enemies. The Flying Monkeys are one of the most famous pieces of iconography associated with the Wicked Witch of the West, with them constantly being by her side in most versions of The Wizard of Oz. However, by the time the first Wicked movie ends, they seem to still be fighting against her, with this change being a major story point in Wicked: For Good.
The first Wicked movie is only an adaptation of Act One of the incredibly popular Broadway musical, with the upcoming sequel Wicked: For Good set to adapt Act Two. At the end of the first Wicked movie, Elphaba has finally realized the evil plans of the Wizard and Madame Morrible,...
The first Wicked movie is only an adaptation of Act One of the incredibly popular Broadway musical, with the upcoming sequel Wicked: For Good set to adapt Act Two. At the end of the first Wicked movie, Elphaba has finally realized the evil plans of the Wizard and Madame Morrible,...
- 1/8/2025
- by Robert Pitman
- ScreenRant


Few Broadway adaptations have been as hotly anticipated as Jon M. Chu’s ‘Wicked’ (2024). Starring powerhouse talents Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, the film dives into the untold story of the witches of Oz, serving as both a prequel and a counter-narrative to ‘The Wizard of Oz’. With its enchanting melodies, dazzling choreography, and a devoted fanbase, ‘Wicked’ had all the ingredients to dominate the box offic and leave audiences spellbound. And while the film honors much of its source material, a few cracks in its broomstick keep it from flying as high as it could. Things to do: Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Limited Time Offer – Free Subscription to The Hollywood Insider Click here to read more on The Hollywood Insider’s vision, values and mission statement here – Media has the responsibility to better our world – The Hollywood Insider...
- 1/7/2025
- by Jake Yancey
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment

Once again, the Golden Globes opened televised awards season in the run-up to a Donald Trump presidency. But this time, things looked a little different.
At the 2017 ceremony, for instance, Meryl Streep used her Cecil B. DeMille lifetime-achievement awards speech to decry the incoming President. A year later, following reporting around sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry, including and especially by Harvey Weinstein, the ceremony was half a rally to plan new ways of talking about power in Hollywood and half a funeral for the old ways; at least that’s how it looked at home, with every female nominee dressed in black.
None of the problems discussed onstage by Meryl Streep or by Oprah Winfrey in 2018 or any number of others have gone away, exactly. (Quite the opposite: The president that the #Resistance movement has spent eight years battling won the popular vote last year.) But, with a grin-and-bear-it sense of chagrin,...
At the 2017 ceremony, for instance, Meryl Streep used her Cecil B. DeMille lifetime-achievement awards speech to decry the incoming President. A year later, following reporting around sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry, including and especially by Harvey Weinstein, the ceremony was half a rally to plan new ways of talking about power in Hollywood and half a funeral for the old ways; at least that’s how it looked at home, with every female nominee dressed in black.
None of the problems discussed onstage by Meryl Streep or by Oprah Winfrey in 2018 or any number of others have gone away, exactly. (Quite the opposite: The president that the #Resistance movement has spent eight years battling won the popular vote last year.) But, with a grin-and-bear-it sense of chagrin,...
- 1/6/2025
- by Daniel D'Addario
- Variety Film + TV

At the age of 37, Cynthia Erivo has already had a richly varied career, winning a Tony, an Emmy and a Grammy and channeling Harriet Tubman in “Harriet” and Aretha Franklin in “Genius: Aretha.”
So why does it seem as if she might have been born to play the iconic Wicked Witch of the West in “Wicked,” Jon M. Chu’s musical movie adaptation of author Gregory Maguire’s 1995 “Wizard of Oz” prequel novel and its 2003 Broadway musical?
As Elphaba, the name the witch had before she became known simply as wicked, Erivo uses the film to take a dramatic turn that has landed her both at the top of the box-office charts and in the awards picture. Beyond her renditions of Stephen Schwartz’s beloved “Defying Gravity,” “The Wizard and I,” “I’m Not That Girl” and other numbers, she illuminates a richly textured emotional landscape within the west-bound witch everyone thinks they know.
So why does it seem as if she might have been born to play the iconic Wicked Witch of the West in “Wicked,” Jon M. Chu’s musical movie adaptation of author Gregory Maguire’s 1995 “Wizard of Oz” prequel novel and its 2003 Broadway musical?
As Elphaba, the name the witch had before she became known simply as wicked, Erivo uses the film to take a dramatic turn that has landed her both at the top of the box-office charts and in the awards picture. Beyond her renditions of Stephen Schwartz’s beloved “Defying Gravity,” “The Wizard and I,” “I’m Not That Girl” and other numbers, she illuminates a richly textured emotional landscape within the west-bound witch everyone thinks they know.
- 1/6/2025
- by Benjamin Lindsay
- The Wrap

Although most of Greg Wells’ professional life has involved producing or writing for big pop artists, he’s dedicated more of his time in recent years to working on films. Two and a half years, specifically (so far), as the music producer on both parts of “Wicked” — a job he describes as “Herculean” with very good quantitative as well as qualitative reason. It follows up his work as producer on the Grammy-winning No. 1 soundtrack for another full-on movie musical, “The Greatest Showman.” His classical and jazz training are coming in handy as he makes his name doing soundtracks that involve heavy orchestration as well as the ability to properly frame today’s top pop divas.
In this Variety Q&a, Wells goes into detail about why this project personally packs an emotional punch for him, his friendship of nearly 35 years with composer Stephen Schwartz, the back-and-forth processes that took two...
In this Variety Q&a, Wells goes into detail about why this project personally packs an emotional punch for him, his friendship of nearly 35 years with composer Stephen Schwartz, the back-and-forth processes that took two...
- 1/5/2025
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV

While the Wicked movie is an overall faith adaptation of the Broadway musical, the movie does make several effective changes. This faithfulness is one of the prominent reasons for Wicked's positive reviews, with director Jon M. Chu, stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera, and the entire cast and crew demonstrating significant respect and enthusiasm for the stage musical in their adaptation. This includes every Wicked song from the first act of the musical being featured in the movie.
Nevertheless, some changes were inevitable given the intrinsic differences in the artistic mediums of a stage musical and a feature-length movie. One of the most noticeable changes is the pacing of the songs, with "Defying Gravity" and other songs becoming much longer. Other changes were creative choices, nearly all of which enhanced the narrative, and helped set up Wicked: For Good's story ahead of its highly anticipated 2025 release.
Elphaba Is...
Nevertheless, some changes were inevitable given the intrinsic differences in the artistic mediums of a stage musical and a feature-length movie. One of the most noticeable changes is the pacing of the songs, with "Defying Gravity" and other songs becoming much longer. Other changes were creative choices, nearly all of which enhanced the narrative, and helped set up Wicked: For Good's story ahead of its highly anticipated 2025 release.
Elphaba Is...
- 1/4/2025
- by Matthew Rudoy
- ScreenRant


This week’s top pick, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, is likely to earn a Best Animated Feature nomination at the Oscars. But it likely won’t join its predecessor, 2005’s Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit, in actually winning the award.
Pioneering “claymation” studio Aardman’s second Wallace & Gromit feature finds the innocent inventor and his more skeptical dog re-encountering the dastardly penguin thief Feathers McGraw, whose jewel heist they thwarted back in the 1993 short The Wrong Trousers. Imprisoned in a zoo ever since Wallace and Gromit stopped him, McGraw has come back for revenge. It’s a sequel 30 years in the making, and the whole family will love it. It’s now streaming on Netflix.
Here are some other movies to stream this weekend:
Wicked: There are technically higher-tier contenders now available to watch at home than Wallace & Gromit, but they’re only available on VOD,...
Pioneering “claymation” studio Aardman’s second Wallace & Gromit feature finds the innocent inventor and his more skeptical dog re-encountering the dastardly penguin thief Feathers McGraw, whose jewel heist they thwarted back in the 1993 short The Wrong Trousers. Imprisoned in a zoo ever since Wallace and Gromit stopped him, McGraw has come back for revenge. It’s a sequel 30 years in the making, and the whole family will love it. It’s now streaming on Netflix.
Here are some other movies to stream this weekend:
Wicked: There are technically higher-tier contenders now available to watch at home than Wallace & Gromit, but they’re only available on VOD,...
- 1/4/2025
- by Liam Mathews
- Gold Derby

Exclusive: Unlimited is not just a melodic lyric used in one of the most iconic songs in Broadway history. It also reflects the determination of those in front of and behind the camera that brought Wicked’s pièce de résistance “Defying Gravity” to life onscreen.
The show-stopping battle cry is a declaration of self-acceptance from the witch Elphaba Thropp, played by Cynthia Erivo, after going through most of her life as an outcast. “We worked tirelessly to make ‘Defying Gravity’ feel like this gigantic set piece,” says editor Myron Kerstein. “We have the balloon and the flying monkey chase beforehand, and those scenes don’t need to be there, but it helps the audience, who may have expectations of where they’re going to go next, to sort of keep them on their feet and enjoy the ride.”
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in ‘Wicked’
Originally unscripted and deterring from the stage version,...
The show-stopping battle cry is a declaration of self-acceptance from the witch Elphaba Thropp, played by Cynthia Erivo, after going through most of her life as an outcast. “We worked tirelessly to make ‘Defying Gravity’ feel like this gigantic set piece,” says editor Myron Kerstein. “We have the balloon and the flying monkey chase beforehand, and those scenes don’t need to be there, but it helps the audience, who may have expectations of where they’re going to go next, to sort of keep them on their feet and enjoy the ride.”
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in ‘Wicked’
Originally unscripted and deterring from the stage version,...
- 1/3/2025
- by Ryan Fleming and Destiny Jackson
- Deadline Film + TV
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