Even if you’ve not seen the Wicked movie yet, I still expect you’ll have heard all the hype around Ariana Grande’s stunning portrayal of Glinda.
Along with Cynthia Erivo, who stars opposite her as Elphaba, Ari’s performance is receiving rave reviews — with many critics already predicting that she could be one of the top contenders at the 2025 Oscars.
However, since Ari has long been best known for her pop music career, some have been surprised to see the singer nail her first-ever lead role in a major movie and hold her own against Cynthia, a Tony-winning Broadway performer.
And it seems like one of the people who underestimated her skills as a big-screen actor was the movie’s director, Jon M. Chu, who revealed on a podcast before the film’s release that he initially wasn’t sure she had what it took to lead the long-awaited Wicked adaptation to success.
Even after Ari blew him away in her first audition, Jon said it still took him a while to truly “believe” that she had the right skills, saying that it wasn’t until she’d repeatedly “proved herself” that he was convinced she was their Glinda.
Following Wicked‘s historic box office opening, Jon’s quotes about the casting process have started to gain attention online — and it’s safe to say his past skepticism has sparked some confusion among fans who followed Ari’s rise.
First and foremost, a ton of X users are shocked that Jon lacked faith in Ari’s skills as an actor, with many pointing out that she literally got her start as a teenage Broadway star and later rose to fame playing the memorably comedic Cat Valentine in Nickelodeon’s Victorious.
Of all Jon said, people seemed to take the biggest issue with him doubting Ariana’s ability to be “funny enough.” As fans of the singer will know, she has repeatedly proven herself to be a comedic talent over the years, whether that’s on Nickelodeon, in interviews, or the numerous times she’s appeared on Saturday Night Live.
But, despite all the discourse, some are coming to Jon’s defense, arguing that he was well within his rights to have apprehensions about casting an actor who’d never led a major movie before.
It’s safe to say that no one doubts Ariana’s talents now, but were you among those who were shocked by how good she was as Glinda? And was it fair for Jon to have concerns about her abilities at the start of the casting process? LMK your thoughts in the comments!