The Stars Who Almost Made It To Oz In WICKED

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo may now seem inseparable from the roles of Glinda and Elphaba, but the road to casting WICKED was filled with major names hoping to step into Oz.

The first film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical premiered in November 2024, with Grande starring as Glinda and Erivo as Elphaba. Its second instalment, WICKED: FOR GOOD, followed on 21 November 2025, completing director Jon M. Chu’s two-part screen version of the beloved stage phenomenon.

Based on the Broadway musical, which was itself adapted from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, WICKED reimagines the story behind The Wizard Of Oz, tracing the friendship, rivalry and public mythology that eventually transform Glinda into the Good Witch and Elphaba into the so-called Wicked Witch of the West.

While Grande and Erivo ultimately won the central roles, a number of well-known performers have since revealed they also auditioned for the film adaptation. Among them were Amanda Seyfried, Cristin Milioti, Dove Cameron, Renée Rapp, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, Jordin Sparks, Taylor Louderman, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas, Ryan McCartan and Spencer Sutherland.

Seyfried’s pursuit of Glinda was especially intense. The actress has spoken about auditioning for the role while she was simultaneously filming THE DROPOUT, the acclaimed series in which she played Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. Despite juggling one of the most demanding screen roles of her career, Seyfried made time to audition for the WICKED film on weekends, reflecting how fiercely coveted the role had become.

Dove Cameron and Renée Rapp were also among the performers associated with Glinda. Both had musical theatre credentials and strong fan interest behind them, while Cameron had long been linked by fans to the role, partly because of her vocal style and connection to original Broadway Glinda Kristin Chenoweth through HAIRSPRAY LIVE!

The search for Elphaba also attracted notable names. Cristin Milioti, known to many audiences for THE PENGUIN, FARGO and HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, auditioned for the role and later joked about the difficulty of tackling Elphaba’s famously demanding vocal material. Jordin Sparks also confirmed that she auditioned for Elphaba, while Phylicia Pearl Mpasi spoke publicly about her emotional connection to the character.

In an additional twist, Grande herself initially read for Elphaba as well as Glinda before ultimately landing the role that now defines her place in the WICKED film universe.

Fiyero, eventually played by Jonathan Bailey, was another highly contested part. Both Nick Jonas and Joe Jonas auditioned for the role, with the brothers later revealing that they supported each other through the process despite competing for the same part. Broadway performer Ryan McCartan, who had previously played Fiyero on stage, also auditioned, as did singer Spencer Sutherland, who reached the callback stage.

Director Jon M. Chu has previously said he originally imagined casting lesser-known actors in the central roles. However, Grande and Erivo’s auditions shifted the direction of the process, with the pair ultimately becoming the emotional and vocal centre of the film adaptation.

The number of established performers who auditioned for WICKED speaks to the musical’s enduring cultural power. For more than two decades, the roles of Glinda, Elphaba and Fiyero have been considered dream parts for musical theatre performers, pop stars and screen actors alike.

While many of those who auditioned did not make it to Oz, their involvement highlights just how competitive the casting process was. In the end, Grande, Erivo and Bailey emerged as the faces of the screen adaptation, but WICKED’s casting history reveals a fascinating alternate version of Oz that nearly featured some very different stars.