Jon M. Chu Says Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo’s ‘Wicked’ Bond Was “Magic, Not Mayhem”
The Wicked director opens up about fearing “insane divaship” between Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo and how that worry turned into a genuine friendship on set.
Los Angeles, October 30 EST: Jon M. Chu just said the quiet part out loud and fans are eating it up. The Wicked director admitted he once feared “insane divaship” might spark between his two leads, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo a fair concern when your witches also happen to be pop royalty and Broadway gold. But instead of the headline-grabbing clash the internet probably expected, Chu says what unfolded on set was “one of the most beautiful friendships to watch grow.”
That’s right: no broomstick battles, no glittery feuds just two megastars in sync.
“We Were All Scared” Then the Magic Happened
In his new People exclusive, Chu admits the team was bracing for impact before production even rolled. “We were all scared,” he said, describing those early shoot days. “But we threw down and shot the moon and trusted each other.”
It’s a wonderfully Chu-ism kind of quote part filmmaker philosophy, part musical pep talk. For anyone who’s followed his career through Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights, that mix of fear and faith checks out. He builds entire worlds by betting on people’s chemistry.
And with Grande as Glinda and Erivo as Elphaba, chemistry was always going to be the X factor. Both women are vocal powerhouses, perfectionists by nature, and global brands in their own right. The idea that they could’ve butted heads wasn’t exactly far-fetched.
But what emerged, Chu insists, was something closer to sisterhood.
The Wicked Energy Shift
The first Wicked movie is slated to arrive later this year, with part two “Wicked: For Good” set for November 21, 2025. Chu teased that the sequel dives even deeper: “If you thought the first movie was strong,” he told People, “wait until you see what they’re able to do in movie two.”
Translation: it’s not just a two-parter, it’s a power move.
By hinting that For Good goes harder emotionally and musically, Chu’s framing this as more than a glitzy adaptation it’s a full-blown event franchise. Think Dune’s scale meets The Greatest Showman’s heart.
And honestly, it’s working. Fans have been waiting years to see how Wicked would finally translate to the big screen how Oz would look outside the proscenium, how “Defying Gravity” would sound in Dolby. Chu’s confidence, paired with his humility about what it took to get there, is adding to the hype instead of cheapening it.
When Pop Meets Broadway
The casting of Grande and Erivo always carried a kind of cultural charge. Grande, the platinum-haired chart-topper with pipes to match the pop divas of old, and Erivo, the Tony- and Grammy-winning actress whose performances feel almost devotional, are two very different artistic animals.
Yet they orbit similar territory women who push craft to the point of obsession. On paper, that’s combustible. In practice, apparently, it was a creative dream.
Fans have long speculated about how the two would gel, given the fandoms around each. Grande’s audience lives online massive, meme-happy, hyper-protective. Erivo’s base leans theatrical and artistic, reverent of process and performance. Chu’s new comments neatly dissolve those expectations: no egos, just mutual awe.
It helps that Wicked’s story two women navigating friendship, fame, and power mirrors the headlines people wanted to invent. Life imitating art, minus the meltdown.
Building Oz From the Ground Up
Beyond its leads, Chu’s Oz boasts some serious Hollywood firepower: Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, and a stacked crew including cinematographer Alice Brooks and costume designer Paul Tazewell.
Filming reportedly stretched across both England and California, turning vast soundstages into emerald cities and enchanted forests. Chu’s mantra throughout “trust each other” became the production’s heartbeat.
And now, as he looks back on what could’ve been a tension-filled set, Chu sounds equal parts relieved and proud. His “we were all scared” line feels less about diva drama and more about daring to scale up a story this beloved without losing its heart.
The Real Spell: Harmony
There’s a quiet brilliance in how Chu’s handled this rollout. By getting ahead of any “on-set tension” rumors, he not only diffuses tabloid fodder but reclaims the narrative. Wicked becomes about sisterhood, not rivalry about artistry, not attitude.
In a way, it’s the best possible pre-release buzz: genuine emotion, no PR gloss.
It’s also very in step with where pop culture is now. Audiences are exhausted by celebrity feuds and fascinated instead by collaboration the kind that feels earned, not staged. Grande and Erivo, two artists from completely different worlds, embody that shift.
So yes, the witches of Oz were powerful. But according to Chu, they were also just kind of perfect scene partners. And in this era of ego-driven everything, that’s maybe the most magical plot twist of all.
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A bi-coastal pop culture critic and former indie screenwriter, Gia covers Hollywood, streaming wars, and subculture shifts with razor wit and Gen Z intuition. If it’s going viral, she already knew about it.
