When director Jon M. Chu began casting for the highly anticipated Wicked movie adaptation, he initially envisioned discovering unknown talent for the iconic roles of Elphaba and Glinda. However, the project attracted such widespread interest that numerous established actresses eagerly pursued the coveted part of the green-skinned witch.
The Director's Original Vision
Speaking to SFX Magazine, Chu revealed his initial approach to casting the musical film. "I wanted to have a very clear slate coming into Wicked," he explained. "It's a big enough property on its own, so we can discover two people. I was like, 'We're gonna find no-namers'."
This strategy quickly changed when the production team received calls from multiple acclaimed actresses requesting auditions. Chu admitted they saw everyone who expressed interest, noting that "they were all really great" and "anyone could have done this role." Despite the abundance of talent, he ultimately believed only two performers were truly meant for the lead roles.
Major Stars Who Tried Out for Elphaba
Ariana Grande, who eventually secured the role of Glinda, initially auditioned for both leading parts. On the Sentimental Men podcast, she disclosed that she performed four songs during her first audition: 'No One Mourns the Wicked', 'Popular', 'The Wizard and I' and 'Defying Gravity'. Despite having an inkling she was better suited for Glinda, Grande remained open to the possibility of playing Elphaba, acknowledging that producers might have considered her vocally appropriate for the role.
Cristin Milioti, known for How I Met Your Mother and The Penguin, confirmed her Elphaba audition during a September appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. She described the experience as her first in-person audition since COVID, which unfortunately didn't go as planned. Milioti recalled a particularly disastrous high note attempt but graciously acknowledged that Cynthia Erivo was the perfect choice for the role.
Former American Idol winner Jordin Sparks revealed her Elphaba audition during the June 2025 BET Awards, telling The Hollywood Reporter she felt "grateful to even be considered" for the part. While she hasn't seen the finished film yet, Sparks expressed enthusiasm about potentially playing Elphaba on Broadway in the future.
Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, who portrayed young Celie in the 2023 remake of The Color Purple, also tried out for Elphaba. In a YouTube video, she explained how deeply she connected with the character's experience of feeling different due to her skin colour, praising Erivo's casting as stellar.
Rumoured Contenders and Casting History
Although Lady Gaga never officially auditioned for Jon M. Chu's version, reports from Page Six indicate she was previously attached to play Elphaba in Stephen Daldry's earlier iteration of the film. According to sources, Gaga had meetings with Daldry about the character and was essentially cast before the project fell through due to scheduling conflicts in 2020.
Rumours also circulated about Nicole Scherzinger being considered for the role following her West End performance in Cats. However, the singer-actress later denied these claims at the Billboard Music Awards, confirming she never auditioned for Elphaba.
The extensive audition process ultimately led to Cynthia Erivo's casting, with director Jon M. Chu describing her performance as "absolutely remarkable" - a sentiment echoed by several actresses who tried out for the role themselves.
