New ‘Wicked’ trailer highlights Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo’s thrilling presence

Ariana Grande (left) is Glinda and Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in “Wicked,” directed by Jon M. Chu | Image: Universal Pictures PH

The spellbinding aura continues as “Wicked” dropped its second trailer, offering more excitement with the on-screen presence of Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. 

The new trailer was released Thursday, Sept. 5, teasing the evolution of the friendship between the two ladies starting when they meet as students at Shiz University and as they face challenges in the fantastical Land of Oz.

“Let me tell you the whole story,” Grande said in the voice-over. The trailer was made more thrilling as Erivo began to sing the musical’s powerful anthem, “Defying Gravity.”

Elphaba, who’s judged by other students because of her green skin, has managed to impress the headmistress, Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), because of her impressive skills.

“Listen to me; you can do anything,” Grande’s Glinda assures her friend. The clips show exciting events before Elphaba declares shortly before the trailer ends, “I’m not afraid. It’s the Wizard who should be afraid of me.”

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians,” “In the Heights”), “Wicked” is also set to feature Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton) as Fiyero, Tony nominee Ethan Slater (Broadway’s Spongebob Squarepants) as Boq, Marissa Bode in her feature-film debut as Nessarose, and pop culture icon Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.

The second trailer came nearly four months after the first one, which showcased Grande singing “Popular,” featuring flashback scenes of Glinda and Elphaba forging a profound friendship that will help them fulfill their destiny.

“I want people to see ‘Wicked’ and experience it in a way they’ve never experienced before,” said the film’s director in a previous interview. “I want them to feel what I felt going into that theater for the first time. I want to make them laugh, to make them sing, to make them feel that after they’ve watched it, they’ve been changed for good.”