Imagine Lady Gaga as Elphaba, a green-skinned witch with defiance in her heart and a voice to match. The cast of the “Wicked” movie almost looked quite different, with Stephen Daldry attached to direct and Lady Gaga and Shawn Mendes set in starring roles. According to sources close to the project, the English director and producer of “The Crown” had Gaga in mind to play the character of Elphaba.
The idea of Lady Gaga playing Elphaba wasn’t just fan fiction. Back in 2016-2017, when Stephen Daldry was attached to direct, he had Gaga in mind for the lead role. According to reports, they even had several meetings discussing how Gaga’s powerhouse vocals and theatrical charisma could flesh out Elphaba.
Daldry is known for delighting in the combination of emotional investment and artistic license. He feels that Gaga brings a whole new dynamic to the role. An essential factor in his approach, he says, was how her music ability could give Elphaba’s songs the most raw emotion. At the time, she was on the heels of her Joanne album success and working on the role in A Star Is Born. She felt ready for this challenge.
But then, in a turn of events so common in Hollywood, the plans veered off course. Daldry exited the project in 2020 due to scheduling conflicts, thus letting Jon M. Chu, director of “Crazy Rich Asians,” step in. With that change coming, the casting choices updated accordingly.
Of course, it ultimately led to Cynthia Erivo taking on Elphaba and Ariana Grande becoming Glinda. The actresses have brought their magic to the film, but one can’t help but wonder how much different this movie would have been had it been Gaga playing the lead.
It is nothing new for Lady Gaga to be in the spotlight, as her remarkable achievements in music and film portray the kinds of performances that amaze audiences-for instance, “A Star Is Born.” Her involvement with “Wicked” brought about debate with the creative process in hard-figure casting decisions. With the lyrics so strong and emotionally deep, could Gaga have morphed the character of Elphaba into one that fans related to even better if she had taken on the role?
News of Gaga’s near-casting sent mixed feelings among fans. Many were surreal with the idea of her playing such an iconic role. They imagined her commanding stage presence and vocal strength bring new life to Elphaba. Other fans, however, seemed pleased with who was cast in the final result: Cynthia Erivo’s powerhouse of a voice and Grande’s charm have already received accolades, as early reviews mentioned chemistry and performances.
Even with these changes, the “Wicked” movie is one of the most anticipated adaptations to be witnessed in the last couple of years. With its current cast and direction, it promises to be a spectacular rendition of the beloved Broadway musical. Meanwhile, Lady Gaga remains relevant in all her artistic pursuits, be it music or acting; indeed, she carries within her the star power, no matter the role.
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