As Wicked prepares to enchant cinemas this week (November 22), fresh revelations have surfaced about what could have been a very different casting lineup.
Currently starring Ariana Grande as Glinda, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero under the direction of Jon M. Chu, the film nearly took an alternate path back when it was under the helm of Stephen Daldry.
According to insider reports, Daldry, who left the project in 2020 due to scheduling conflicts, envisioned Lady Gaga as Elphaba and Shawn Mendes as Fiyero. Sources claim Daldry and Gaga had multiple discussions about the role, with Gaga reportedly being “essentially cast” in his version before the production shifted directions.
Since stepping away from Wicked, Gaga has dived into other projects, including her performance in Joker: Folie à Deux. While her portrayal was widely praised, the film struggled critically and commercially. Gaga has also been busy musically, recently releasing the lead single “Disease” from her upcoming album. On top of that, she’s slated to join the cast of Wednesday season two and was just confirmed as a headliner for Coachella 2025.
As for Mendes, he’s been relatively quiet on the acting front, focusing more on music in recent months.
Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic and Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
