NEED TO KNOW
- The primary a part of Depraved premiered in 2024 and starred Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Glinda and Elphaba, respectively
- A minimum of 12 different stars confirmed that additionally they auditioned for lead roles within the movie adaptation
- Amanda Seyfried revealed that she auditioned for Glinda whereas concurrently filming The Dropout
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo weren’t the one celebrities who wished to defy gravity.
Depraved tells the origin story of Glinda and Elphaba and the occasions that led to their fateful roles because the Good Witch and the Depraved Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. Based mostly on the hit Broadway musical (which itself was tailored from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel), the long-awaited movie adaptation launched its first half in November 2024. The second is about to premiere on Nov. 21, 2025.
Although director Jon M. Chu informed CBS Mornings in December 2024 that he initially hoped to solid lesser-known actors as Glinda and Elphaba, it rapidly grew to become clear that Grande and Erivo have been meant for the roles.
“When these two stroll in … the second you look of their eyes, there is no denying it,” Chu mentioned. “They simply took these roles.”
However the journey to solid the long-lasting duo was something however easy. A variety of performers — from pop stars to Broadway veterans — auditioned for an opportunity to step into Oz. Grande herself even went out for a special position.
So, who else was within the operating to guide one of the crucial anticipated film musicals of all time? Listed below are 12 stars who auditioned for Depraved.
Glinda
Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Seyfried didn’t let her busy schedule get in the best way of auditioning for the Good Witch. The actress informed Backstage in July 2022 that she auditioned for Depraved on weekends whereas filming The Dropout, by which she performed former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes.
“I’ve goals that I’m nonetheless auditioning for Depraved,” Seyfried joked. “As a result of I wished it that a lot that I used to be like, ‘You already know what? Yeah, I’ve to play the final scene of The Dropout on Tuesday. I’ll give my Sunday to you.’ I actually bent over backwards whereas taking part in the toughest position of my life.”
The actress, who sang for her position as Cosette in Les Misérables, mentioned that although she didn’t land Glinda, she felt that the audition course of ready her for her subsequent musical alternative.
Dove Cameron
Like Grande, Dove Cameron has additionally dreamed of being “Widespread.” The actress informed Leisure Tonight in February 2019 that Glinda was the “position of a lifetime” and that she had wished it since she was 7 years outdated.
In 2023, Cameron confirmed to TheWrap that she was within the operating for Depraved however didn’t specify which position she was thought-about for. “I do know that for everyone who did exit for it, it was a really lengthy course of,” she mentioned. “It was one of many longer processes I’ve been part of.”
Renée Rapp
Throughout a November 2022 look on Watch What Occurs Reside!, Renée Rapp informed host Andy Cohen that she auditioned for the position of Glinda and was over the moon that it went to Grande as an alternative.
“Ariana’s gonna be — can I cuss? — She’s gonna be f—— wonderful,” the Imply Ladies star mentioned. “I am so excited.”
Elphaba
Ariana Grande
Whereas it’s onerous to think about Grande taking part in anybody however Glinda now, she revealed on the Sentimental Males podcast in November 2024 that she additionally auditioned for Elphaba.
“I had an inkling in my coronary heart all the time that it was going to be Glinda, however I used to be listening to actually blended issues from individuals who have been like, ‘Oh, they need you to learn for each,’ ” the singer mentioned. “I used to be like, I assume that is as a result of they do not know what my voice is — and perhaps they suppose vocally I may be better-suited for Elphaba. I secretly knew I used to be solely meant for Glinda.”
Cristin Milioti
Though most individuals know her from dramas like The Penguin and Fargo, Cristin Milioti can be a proficient singer and received a Grammy for her position within the musical As soon as. So when she was requested to audition for “one among her favourite musicals,” she jumped on the probability to play Elphaba.
Nevertheless, she was skeptical of her means to succeed in the long-lasting excessive word Elphaba sings on the finish of “Defying Gravity.”
“I had two weeks and this was additionally my first in-person audition since COVID,” she mentioned throughout a September 2024 look on The Tonight Present Starring Jimmy Fallon. “I believe I’m going to hit this loopy word that I’ve been obsessing over, and I opened my mouth broad. I took a deep breath, and the sound that escaped me is one thing I’ll hear on my deathbed.”
Phylicia Pearl Mpasi
The Colour Purple’s Phylicia Pearl Mpasi confirmed in an emotional Might 2024 YouTube video that she auditioned to play Elphaba — and the way she felt drawn to the character as a child when a trainer didn’t consider that she may sing.
“I heard this rating … and simply felt so seen,” Mpasi mentioned. “I understood how Elphaba felt feeling totally different, and prefer it wasn’t her fault. It was simply the colour of her pores and skin, and I simply felt that approach a lot rising up.”
Although she didn’t get the position, the actress mentioned Erivo could be “stellar.”
Fiyero
Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas revealed in a September 2024 interview on the Armchair Skilled podcast that he was as soon as within the operating for Fiyero, Elphaba’s love curiosity in Depraved. And he wasn’t the one Jonas up for the half.
“We have by no means talked about this publicly, however we each auditioned for a similar position — Joe and I,” the “Jealous” singer informed host Dax Shepard. “It was for Depraved, really.”
Joe Jonas
Joe Jonas was additionally thought-about for Fiyero. On Armchair Skilled, he informed Shepard that he and Nick have been supportive of one another in the course of the auditions.
“I mentioned ‘Go in there and kill it,’ ” Joe mentioned. “It needs to be one among us.”
After all, neither of the Jonas brothers obtained that callback, and the position in the end went to Jonathan Bailey.
Ryan McCartan
Ryan McCartan, who performed Fiyero on Broadway within the present’s fifteenth anniversary, revealed in a Might 2024 episode of his podcast The Stage Door that he auditioned for the movie adaptation.
“Jon [M. Chu], you didn’t solid me within the film, regardless that I labored so onerous,” the Liv and Maddie star mentioned. “That’s fantastic, no onerous emotions.”
Spencer Sutherland
Singer Spencer Sutherland confirmed on the Zach Sang Present in March 2023 that he obtained a “double callback” to play Fiyero. Though he had his doubts about touchdown the position, he mentioned he made it fairly far within the audition course of.
“I assumed it was an incredible audition,” Sutherland mentioned. “After I obtained a double callback, I used to be like, ‘Oh s—, that is actual.’ ”