{"id":337706,"date":"2025-10-28T05:45:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T05:45:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/337706\/"},"modified":"2025-10-28T05:45:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T05:45:13","slug":"ariana-grande-cynthia-erivo-eye-oscars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/337706\/","title":{"rendered":"Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo Eye Oscars"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tIs it time for \u201cWicked\u201d to conquer the Oscars<\/a>, for good?<\/p>\n

\n\tUniversal Pictures\u2019 musical fantasy sequel appears poised to match or exceed its predecessor\u2019s impressive showing at the Academy Awards, based on the first social media reactions that were shared on Monday night. <\/p>\n

\n\tDirector Jon M. Chu\u2019s \u201cWicked: For Good<\/a>,\u201d written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, continues the story begun in 2024\u2019s \u201cWicked,\u201d which adapted the first act of the hit 2003 Broadway musical by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman. The follow-up adapts the second act, exploring the aftermath of Elphaba and Glinda\u2019s diverging paths \u2014 one as the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, the other as the beloved Glinda the Good.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe film\u2019s Oscar prospects look strong enough to repeat last year\u2019s 10 nominations, cementing the two-part adaptation as a genuine awards powerhouse, based on the most passionate reactions that have trickled in.<\/p>\n

\n\tDeadline awards writer Destiny Jackson praised the film on X, calling it \u201can epic and heartbreakingly tender conclusion\u201d to Chu\u2019s fantastical saga. <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cAll Good Deeds Go Rewarded in \u2018Wicked: For Good,’\u201d she wrote<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s an epic and heartbreakingly tender conclusion to one of the most dynamic friendships in pop culture history. There\u2019s a lot for fans of the Broadway show to love with butterfly kiss sized surprises in store.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tVariety\u2019s senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay echoed the praise. She wrote on X that \u201cWicked: For Good\u201d goes above and beyond \u201call expectations\u201d and gave particular praise to Chu\u2019s directing. <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cJon M. Chu is a genius in the way he brings this to a close,\u201d Tangcay wrote<\/a>. \u201cElphaba and Glinda\u2019s stories are expanded, and leave you with an emotional gut punch at the end. Cynthia Erivo<\/a> is magnificent, but get ready for Ariana Grande<\/a> as she takes this performance to the next level and is a tour de force. And wow, the world building, the costumes, and Alice Brooks\u2019 cinematography deserve your attention. Can not wait to see it again. I sobbed hard. \u2018Wicked: For Good\u2019 is sheer musical greatness.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tVanity Fair staff writer Chris Murphy also shared a glowing review on X, highlighting the performances of stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cSaw \u2018Wicked: For Good\u2019 last month and believe me when I say that it expands and deepens the original source material in generally exciting and innovative ways,\u201d he wrote<\/a>. \u201cCynthia and Ari take their performances to the next level with jaw-dropping performances. The film fully sticks the landing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tEntertainment writer David Gordon wrote on X that \u201cWicked: For Good\u201d was \u201ceverything you want it to be,\u201d taking the original vision of the stage play to dazzling new heights.<\/p>\n

\n\tIf \u2018Wicked\u2019 part one was faithful to the blueprint of the stage, \u2018Wicked: For Good\u2019 builds out the world to create a full and different (but the same) and extremely emotional version of act 2,\u201d Gordon wrote.<\/a> \u201cIt\u2019s a thrill ride and a heartbreaker and it\u2019s sexy and everything you want it to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tVanity Fair senior awards correspondent Rebecca Ford added to the hype on X, writing<\/a>, \u201cI spoke w\/Jon M. Chu at the SCAD Film Festival just yesterday in front of a very enthusiastic crowd! Now I can finally share that I\u2019ve seen \u2018Wicked: For Good\u2019 and he\u2019s done it again! It\u2019s gorgeous, full of heart, and sticks the landing. A beautiful finale.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tWICKED, Cynthia Erivo (green face), director Jon M. Chu (center), Ariana Grande (right), on set, 2024. ph: Giles Keyte \/\u00a9 Universal Pictures \/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a9Universal\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n

\n\tIf both Erivo and Grande are nominated again for playing Elphaba and Glinda, they would join a very short list, becoming the seventh and eighth performers<\/a> in Oscars history to be recognized twice for the same role.<\/p>\n

\n\tErivo already made history with the first \u201cWicked\u201d becoming the second Black woman to receive multiple nominations for best actress after Viola Davis. Oscar winner Davis and two-time winner costume designer Ruth E. Carter are the most Oscar-nominated Black women in history, with four noms each. Erivo is currently tied with Octavia Spencer at three nominations (Spencer has one win). Erivo\u2019s two Oscar noms were for best actress for \u201cHarriet\u201d (2019) and the original song \u201cStand Up,\u201d becoming the third person to be recognized for acting and music in the same year. I\u2019d keep an eye on Erivo being a frontrunner for the Globe in the lead actress (comedy or musical) category. Whether that can be enough to topple someone like Jessie Buckley (\u201cHamnet\u201d) will be a hurdle the campaign will need to overcome.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe current landscape of the supporting actress race reveals a genuine \u2014 and increasingly promising \u2014 pathway for Grande to enter the thick of the conversation for her first Academy Award. Her performance as Glinda is a fully realized piece of acting that balances humor, heartbreak and show-stopping charisma. If the season\u2019s momentum holds, Grande could find herself not only in the mix but a legitimate contender for Oscar gold.<\/p>\n

\n\tSelf-proclaimed \u201cWicked\u201d experts will often say the second act of the stage show isn\u2019t as strong as the first half since it lacks a showstopper like \u201cDefying Gravity.\u201d However, Chu, along with writers Holzman and Fox, once again elevate the material, particularly in the incredibly emotional \u201cFor Good,\u201d which features the most decisive acting moment for both women in both films (possibly the most decisive moment of their careers). Tears will flow, rivers will rise, and Oscar contenders are solidified in those moments.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe film features a mix of beloved songs from the stage musical and two new original numbers: \u201cNo Place Like Home,\u201d sung by Erivo\u2019s Elphaba, and \u201cThe Girl in the Bubble,\u201d performed by Grande\u2019s Glinda. Both tracks are penned by Schwartz, who also composes alongside John Powell. Added songs in beloved musicals like \u201cWicked\u201d that are later adapted for the big screen are rarely considered \u201cbetter\u201d or even match the original material\u2019s praise. Nonetheless, despite those presumed \u201cflaws,\u201d they can still be embraced by the Music Branch, especially if they are considered to be, in the best picture conversation. Those in the last 25 years have included: \u201cSuddenly\u201d from \u201cLes Mis\u00e9rables\u201d (2012), \u201cLearn to be Lonely\u201d from \u201cThe Phantom of the Opera\u201d (2004), \u201cI Move On\u201d from \u201cChicago\u201d (2002), \u201cTake It All\u201d from \u201cNine\u201d (2009) and the three original numbers from \u201cDreamgirls\u201d (2006) \u2014 \u201cListen,\u201d \u201cLove You I Do\u201d and \u201cPatience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tWhile both new \u201cWicked\u201d songs may face mixed reactions, this is the three-time Oscar-winning Schwartz we\u2019re talking about. The branch reveres the legendary musician. Both songs getting nominated might be too ambitious, especially with this stacked field unfolding (i.e., \u201cGolden\u201d from \u201cKPop Demon Hunters\u201d). If one makes it, the smart bet is on \u201cThe Girl in the Bubble,\u201d considering its placement later in the movie.<\/p>\n

\n\tWith \u201cFor Good\u2019s\u201d technical categories likely locked for recognition \u2014 including the previously winning production design and costume design \u2014 along with viable win-worthy makeup, sound and visual effects, you could pencil in \u201cWicked: For Good\u201d for one of the 10 best picture slots. <\/p>\n

\n\tWhether it translates into more nominations or more wins is a question for the upcoming awards season to answer. One thing that feels certain is the \u201cWicked\u201d phenomenon isn\u2019t finished casting its spell on Oscar voters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Is it time for \u201cWicked\u201d to conquer the Oscars, for good? Universal Pictures\u2019 musical fantasy sequel appears poised…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":337707,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[179,26732,171,15801,67,132,68,148123],"class_list":{"0":"post-337706","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"tag-ariana-grande","9":"tag-cynthia-erivo","10":"tag-entertainment","11":"tag-oscars","12":"tag-united-states","13":"tag-unitedstates","14":"tag-us","15":"tag-wicked-for-good"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115450212068252231","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337706","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=337706"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337706\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/337707"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=337706"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=337706"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=337706"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}