‘Wicked: For Good’, the sequel to the hit musical ‘Wicked’, hits theatres in India today. Ahead of the big launch, Cynthia Erivo, the leading actress of the film, opened up about the emotional and creative demands of bringing her character, Elphaba’s story to its epic conclusion.
Eviro on Elphaba’s journey
The Oscar-nominated actor, whose fierce and vulnerable performance has been widely praised, opened up about her character and her time on set playing the Wicked Witch of Oz. She explained, “Much of Elphaba’s journey in this film is a solo battle, and that was true for me on set as well.””
On filming alone on-set
Reflecting on how the character’s isolation shaped her own process, she explained, “There were many days when it was just me alone in a space. Without another actor to respond to, I had to find inspiration in the environment and in Elphaba’s state of mind. It was a challenge, but it also put me directly into her headspace and helped me understand what it means to carry so much on your own.”
‘Wicked: For Good’ a product of love
Erivo also spoke about what ‘Wicked: For Good’ means to her, emphasising that the team behind the film poured immense passion into crafting a finale that honours the heart of the story. “You can never control what people take from art, but we poured everything into this film,” she notes. “It is the product of so much love and hard work, with extraordinarily creative people coming together to tell a story about love, loss, friendship, heartbreak and joy.”
Cynthia on Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship
From Elphaba’s perspective, Erivo hopes the film will inspire audiences to stay committed to their beliefs. She said, “I hope it inspires people to keep fighting for what they believe in, even when it is difficult. I also hope it makes people think about their friendships. They can change, grow and shift without breaking. That is true of Glinda and Elphaba. Their friendship never ends; it evolves. In doing so, it gives them both the strength to become who they are meant to be.”The film stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh and Marissa Bode.
