by Zach Raffio. @zachraffio.
LOS ANGELES - Oh Shiz! Director Jon M. Chu has announced that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will lead his feature adaptation of Wicked as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, because they already live together, so, you know, it's just easier.
"Coordinating the schedules of two huge stars can be exhausting, but it's so much better that they're already roommates, and have been for almost 10 years," noted Chu, who emphasized that the actors wouldn't have to try very hard to pretend to be roommates because they already are, famously, roommates. "Yes they're talented, but you know what triumphs over talent? Only having to send one Lyft instead of two. That's gonna save us, like, 40 bucks a day."
Producers noted that the cost-cutting elements of the two leads already sharing a small converted two bedroom would be significant, and that they could shoot all dorm room scenes in the pair's actual apartment to make their lives "even more breezy and easy".
At press time, additional casting was yet to be announced, but rumors were swirling that Fiyero would be cast with their doorman, Marcus, because, I mean, he's already there too. It would be easier, right? Yeah, it'd be easier.