A First Look At Jonathan Bailey In The New “Wicked” Movie With Ariana Grande
Exciting news for theatre kids and fans of Bridgerton everywhere as Jonathan Bailey is revealed in the cast of the highly anticipated film adaptation of Wicked, alongside pop sensation Ariana Grande, reports The Mirror.
Bailey is known for his captivating performance as Anthony Bridgerton and will be stepping into the role of Fiyero, the title love interest, which perfectly aligns with his background in theatre on London’s West End.
We love to see a queer man continue to land straight roles
Bailey’s portrayal of Anthony in Bridgerton captivated audiences worldwide with his charm and charisma. Now, he is set to captivate audiences once again, but this time on the big screen, bringing Fiyero to life in the magical world of Wicked. Fiyero, a pivotal character in the musical, is known for his dashing nature and complex journey, making it an ideal role for Bailey to showcase his versatility as an actor.
With his West End experience, including performances in critically acclaimed productions such as Company and Cock, Bailey has demonstrated his exceptional talent for both acting and singing. The casting announcement of Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero was confirmed by director Jon M Chu via Twitter and he says, “He’s perfect, they’re perfect… I am too excited to pretend this hasn’t been happening. We have a Fiyero!”
Production is coming together
The film adaptation of Wicked has been highly anticipated for years, and the addition of Jonathan Bailey to the cast only heightens the excitement. Our first looks at him during filming show him standing beside Ariana Grande wearing a deep green and gold uniform looking dapper as could be.
According to Deadline, the set for the film is as lavish and detailed as would be expected of Oz, with a production design better than Into the Woods and even Oz the Great and Powerful. To recreate Emerald City, Chu planted 9 million non-CGI tulips.
Aside from Bailey and Grande being confirmed in their roles, Cynthia Erivo has been cast in the lead as Elphaba with Michelle Yeoh, Kristin Chenoweth, Jeff Goldblum and Bowen Yang also cast, reports The Mirror.
With an incredibly talented cast and no expenses being spared on set, Wicked is one of the most highly-anticipated films of 2024. The film is the first of two parts with the first being projected for a November 2024 release and the following sequel expected in December 2025.
