Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and More Stars Celebrate Wrapping “Wicked”: 'Grandest Gift I Could Have Ever Asked For'
Members of the film's cast and crew shared memories — and behind-the-scenes shots from set — on Instagram throughout the week
The Wicked cast is toasting a job well done!
Throughout the week, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and other stars of the upcoming film adaptation of the Broadway musical shared sentimental posts in honor of the movie's principal photography coming to a close.
Erivo, who plays Elphaba (the green witch), called the project and all that came with it "the grandest gift I could ever have asked for" in a heartfelt Instagram post on Friday.
"I've been trying to think of what I’d say when this day finally came, and I’m failing miserably, because honestly there aren’t enough words to fully express what this experience has meant to me, so I’ll leave you with this," she wrote. "The universe will take things away to make space for the grand gifts it has waiting for us."
Related: See Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's 2 Matching Wicked Tattoos
"THIS moment, this film, these people, this cast, this crew, this director, my Glinda, were the grandest gift I could ever have asked for, and I am eternally grateful for the chance to bring you This Elphie," Erivo, 37, added alongside an image of her shadow on a stage. "I hope when you meet her, you’ll love her as much and as fiercely as I do. And with that I say, that’s a wrap for me, Elphie out!! 💚💚💚."
Grande, 30, commented, "I love you always," under Erivo's post and even shared her own touching tribute to Wicked on Thursday. Throughout production, she and her costar grew close, even getting some matching tattoos along the way.
"Like a handprint on my heart," the pop star captioned an image of her own shadow as Glinda the Good Witch.
Related: Everything to Know About the 'Wicked' Movie Starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo
Other cast members including Jonathan Bailey and Ethan Slater saluted the production — with Bailey sharing the caption, "Danced on through."
Director Jon M. Chu shared a few additional black-and-white images from the set featuring the caption: "Then close your eyes. Tap your heels together 3 times and think to yourself…"
"Thank you to the massive crew and cast and @universalpictures pictures for supporting the most ambitious cinematic production I have ever been a part of or, frankly, ever witnessed," Chu wrote. "We built real Munchkinland! A multi-level Shiz University Campus! I walked and shopped in a real Emerald City and met the actual Wizard head that moved in realtime."
He continued, "And to fill that space with the insane LIVE vocals of @cynthiaerivo @arianagrande @jbayleaf @michelleyeoh_official @jeffgoldblum @ethanslater @fayedunaway @marissa_edob @bronwynjamesofficial @realkealasettle @aaronteoh and so many more?!! Most of the year my jaw has been on the floor and heart in the clouds. Cameras began rolling here in London in November of 2022 and now in January 2024 our principal photography is officially wrapped. Whew. Exhale. Closing my eyes."
The first Wicked film is slated to hit theaters in November 2024, with a second movie set to arrive one year later.
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Wicked actor Bowen Yang caught up with PEOPLE in late November at the 2023 American Museum of Natural History Gala in New York City, where he raved about Grande and admitted he loves "everything" about his costar.
“I mean, her whole demeanor. Her way of seeing the world,” Yang said. “She's an incredibly empathetic, beautiful, feeling person, and that comes through in her music very clearly.”
“I just think the fact that she's hilarious, full-out funny. I think that she's the perfect person for anybody to be around,” he added. “No matter what capacity. So I love her.”
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