Cynthia Erivo And Ariana Grande Share “Wicked” Magic In Special Behind-The-Scenes Preview

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are taking fans on a special journey behind the scenes of their highly anticipated movie Wicked. With NBC’s new special, Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked, the two stars are ready to share secrets from the world of Oz and give a sneak peek into the movie magic that brings the story to life.

Premiering on November 19, this one-night event will show how Wicked was made, with cast members like Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Michelle Yeoh, and Ethan Slater joining Ariana and Cynthia to discuss their experiences on set. Fans of Wicked will get a rare look at what went on behind the curtains as the team worked to bring this beloved story to the big screen.

Ariana, 31, is as excited as fans are about the reveal. “We’re excited to share all of our Wicked secrets with you,” she said in a preview of the special. Viewers will get an exclusive look at a scene from the film, a treat just ahead of its theater release on Nov. 22.

Directed by Jon M. Chu, known for In the Heights and Crazy Rich Asians, this film brings a fresh take on the story, based on the Tony-winning Broadway musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman. This musical itself is adapted from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, which reimagines the world of Oz from a whole new angle.

The journey hasn’t been without its challenges. In a recent interview, both Ariana and Cynthia shared that they caught COVID-19 during the filming, right before they were set to shoot some of their biggest numbers. Ariana, in her typical humor, joked about the moment, saying, “I came to set with a mask on my final days of recovery… no one liked this joke but I loved it so I’ll tell it: We were in the dorm room together and I sang in her ear, ‘Positive, you’re going to be positive!’ ” Grande joked of her character Glinda’s song “Popular.” referencing her character Glinda’s famous song, Popular. 

She quickly reassured, “But I wasn’t positive anymore, don’t worry! I took the test.”

Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked will air on NBC on November 19 at 10 p.m. ET and will be available to stream the next day on Peacock. The much-anticipated Wicked: Part One opens in theaters on Nov. 22, while fans will have to wait until November 26, 2025, for Wicked: Part Two.