Lin-Manuel Miranda in New York City on Jan. 7, 2025; Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo inWicked(2024).Photo:Mike Coppola/Getty; Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
Mike Coppola/Getty; Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
EvenLin-Manuel Mirandawasn’t exempt from those vying for a part inWicked.According to the movie’s directorJon M. Chu, the famed composer and actor made “many calls” to him, pitching himself for a very specific (albeit small) role.As Chu, 45, says in the commentary forWicked’s newly released digital edition, perVariety, Miranda — whom he previously worked with on 2021’sIn the Heights— wanted to play the Munchkinland citizen who, at the beginning of the movie, asks Glinda (Ariana Grande) of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), “Is it true you were her friend?"“I got many calls from Lin. He might have even tweeted about it,” recalled Chu, explaining that he said no as he thought a cameo from Miranda, 45, would be “too distracting.”“Sorry, Lin!" he added, perVariety.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jon M. Chu in New York City on Jan. 7, 2025.Jamie McCarthy/GettyMirandadid indeed tweetabout wanting the role, which eventually went to actressKirsty Anne Shaw, as seen in the final cut of the movie. (She’s credited as “Skeptical Munchkin” onIMDb.)Sharing aNew York Timesarticle about the film treatment’s early stages, whenStephen Daldrywas attached as director, Miranda wrote all the way back in June 2016, “WICKED MOVIE! FINALLY.“He added in his post on X (formerly Twitter), “Dear Stephen Daldry: Can I play the guy who goes, ‘Is it true you were her FRIEND?!’ “Reada fan reply, “Is that the wicked equivalent of the loud hailer in Les Mis,” to which theHamiltonscribereplied simply, “YES.“There are clearly no hard feelings between Chu and Miranda, though, as the two were recently snapped smiling together earlier this month at theNational Board of Review Awards Galain New York City, where Chu won best director forWicked.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!From L: Jonathan Bailey, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater and Jon M. Chu at the premiere ofWickedin New York City on Nov. 14, 2024.Taylor Hill/FilmMagicErivo, 38, and Grande, 31, bring to life the characters first made famous on Broadway in 2003, withIdina Menzelas the original Elphaba andKristin Chenowethas the original Glinda.But Chu previously revealed in a chat withSFX Magazinethat beforeErivo and Grande were castin the lead roles in theWickedmovie adaptation, heoriginally considered “no-namers.““I wanted to have a very clear slate,” he recalled in the November 2024 interview. “It’s a big enough property on its own, so we can discover two people. I was like, ‘We’re gonna find no-namers.’ ““But then we got calls from all these great actresses who wanted to audition and we saw everybody, and they were all really great,” Chu added. “Anyone could have done this role, except there weretwo people who were meant to do this role, for this particular movie at this particular time.“Wickedis now available to buy or rent on demand.
EvenLin-Manuel Mirandawasn’t exempt from those vying for a part inWicked.
According to the movie’s directorJon M. Chu, the famed composer and actor made “many calls” to him, pitching himself for a very specific (albeit small) role.
As Chu, 45, says in the commentary forWicked’s newly released digital edition, perVariety, Miranda — whom he previously worked with on 2021’sIn the Heights— wanted to play the Munchkinland citizen who, at the beginning of the movie, asks Glinda (Ariana Grande) of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), “Is it true you were her friend?”
“I got many calls from Lin. He might have even tweeted about it,” recalled Chu, explaining that he said no as he thought a cameo from Miranda, 45, would be “too distracting.”
“Sorry, Lin!” he added, perVariety.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jon M. Chu in New York City on Jan. 7, 2025.Jamie McCarthy/Getty
Jamie McCarthy/Getty
Mirandadid indeed tweetabout wanting the role, which eventually went to actressKirsty Anne Shaw, as seen in the final cut of the movie. (She’s credited as “Skeptical Munchkin” onIMDb.)
Sharing aNew York Timesarticle about the film treatment’s early stages, whenStephen Daldrywas attached as director, Miranda wrote all the way back in June 2016, “WICKED MOVIE! FINALLY.”
He added in his post on X (formerly Twitter), “Dear Stephen Daldry: Can I play the guy who goes, ‘Is it true you were her FRIEND?!’ "
Reada fan reply, “Is that the wicked equivalent of the loud hailer in Les Mis,” to which theHamiltonscribereplied simply, “YES.”
There are clearly no hard feelings between Chu and Miranda, though, as the two were recently snapped smiling together earlier this month at theNational Board of Review Awards Galain New York City, where Chu won best director forWicked.
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
From L: Jonathan Bailey, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater and Jon M. Chu at the premiere ofWickedin New York City on Nov. 14, 2024.Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Erivo, 38, and Grande, 31, bring to life the characters first made famous on Broadway in 2003, withIdina Menzelas the original Elphaba andKristin Chenowethas the original Glinda.
But Chu previously revealed in a chat withSFX Magazinethat beforeErivo and Grande were castin the lead roles in theWickedmovie adaptation, heoriginally considered “no-namers.”
“I wanted to have a very clear slate,” he recalled in the November 2024 interview. “It’s a big enough property on its own, so we can discover two people. I was like, ‘We’re gonna find no-namers.’ "
“But then we got calls from all these great actresses who wanted to audition and we saw everybody, and they were all really great,” Chu added. “Anyone could have done this role, except there weretwo people who were meant to do this role, for this particular movie at this particular time.”
Wickedis now available to buy or rent on demand.
source: people.com
