Regardless of your interest, the buzz surrounding Wicked: For Good is inescapable. After a chaotic press tour for the first film, the spotlight is now on the stars and the latest chapter in the popular franchise.
Last year's press circuit was notable for the strong connection between both actresses. Their emotional appearances and expressions of affection captured significant attention. Despite jokes about being âannoying,â their relationship appears unbreakable. At the New York premiere, one star avoided interviews to protect her voice, while the other reportedly did the same in solidarity. Inquiring about their feelings ahead of the film's finale, they expressed âoverwhelming gratitude.â
It was shared that one star lost her voice and would not be doing interviews at the movie premiere. Ariana Grande opted out of media appearances to stand with her.
The sight of two successful women in their 30s frequently caring for each other has sparked theories. Both have several identical tattoos inspired by the franchise, such as âFor goodâ inside their hands. On a podcast, one star commented that their goal is to âlook after each otherâ and adding she âexpresses careâ through hand-holding.
During the international event, an individual jumped over the red carpet and attempted to grab Ariana Grande. Her co-star quickly stepped in to protect her before guards apprehended the assailant. Named as an admitted âprankster,â he afterwards posted footage of the incident on social media, prompting widely condemned. He faced legal charges and was sentenced to jail.
The star's partner, Ethan Slater, also appears in the sequel. They connected during production of the first movie, during prior relationships. Even with social media posts, the pair not done joint press and appeared separated in group photos, fueling breakup speculation. However, sources close to the pair recently dismissed these rumors, stating that everything is âgreatâ between them.
Jeff Goldblum, portraying The Wizard of Oz, has shared that being part of the movie led him to stop eating meat. The two lead actresses are longtime plant-based, and Michelle Yeoh adheres to a vegan lifestyle. This has motivated animal rights groups to reach out to co-stars, including Jonathan Bailey, hoping to convince them to adopt a vegan lifestyle. To date, Bailey remains non-committal but has praised the movie's themes of acceptance.
Pre-sale sales for the sequel are reportedly surpassing those of the first film. In the UK cinemas, passes are selling at more than twice the pace. It has also led to countless promotional partnerships, including beverages to television specials. In London even showcased a promotional yellow brick installation with song lyrics. Given the success, fans have talk about a potential third film.
Ariana Grande has indicated that her forthcoming concert seriesâher first in almost a decadeâmight be her last for a âforeseeable future.â She appears to be moving to film roles, such as an upcoming movie with Robert De Niro. Meanwhile, she has developed new interests like observing birds and showing interest in studying insects. For fans hoping for new music, it might be a lengthy wait.
Lena is a tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering consumer electronics and emerging technologies.