Before there were number 1 hits and viral albums, pop sensation Ariana Grande began her career as a teenager in a Broadway musical, followed by raising a generation with her role as Cat Valentine in Nickelodeon's Victorious. Back to her roots, now the Oscar-nominated multi-hyphenated star is set on a cinematic Odyssey to stop at nothing. And her iconic version of Glinda in Wicked is proof of her ambitious journey ahead, rife with her own skill. 

Ariana Grande not only stepped into Oz with Glinda's wand in hand but also brought her own colors and heart to present the best interpretation of the legendary character on the big screen.  

Speaking with veteran actress Nicole Kidman for Interview Magazine, Ariana Grande explained how much she ventured into improvisation during the filming of Wicked and Wicked: For Good. Though movies usually do not allow much straying from the strict pages of the script, Grande said her improvisations or riffing "was so fun and inspiring, and also almost jealous-making." She pointed out that on Broadway, the actors perform eight shows a week and experiment with different interpretations, whereas the film allows her to establish one version of Glinda, set in stone. 

"You only get to live with one version forever," in the movie, unlike the theatre, she lamented to the outlet. However, with director Jon M. Chu's unconditional faith in Grande, which she acknowledged, she was able to play around with her character beyond measure without even knowing which edit would become the final version in the film. Her burst of creativity made the new Glinda appear more timeless yet relatable, trendy, and emotionally multi-dimensional. Now, not only the excitement about the recently released Wicked: For Good is at an all-time high, but also expectations for what is next in Grande's slate beyond music.

‘Wicked’: Where You Can Watch Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s Big-Screen Musical in 2025

Almost like a live performance forever captured on film, Ariana Grande's Wicked journey opened new doors for her in terms of acting. 

Ariana Grande is now wrapping up her upcoming movie, a Fockers sequel in New York, per Interview Magazine. Focker In-Law, slated for a November 25, 2026, release, is directed by John Hamburg. It stars the original Meet the Parents cast, including Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, and Teri Polo, with Grande, Skyler Gisondo, Beanie Feldstein, and Eduardo Franco joining them.   

Besides the comedy feature Focker In-Law, Grande is also set to star in Oh, the Places You'll Go! alongside Josh Gad. The musical animation adaptation of Dr. Seuss' final book will be released by Warner Bros. on March 17, 2028. Reuniting with director Jon M. Chu alongside Jill Culton, the film comes from producer J.J. Abrams straight to IMAX. Meanwhile, Grande is now basking in her spectacular success with Wicked: For Good, which arrived in theatres on November 21, 2025.

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What are your opinions of Ariana Grande's version of Glinda in Wicked: For Good? Comment your thoughts below.