Cynthia Erivo dropped by her former Broadway Color Purple co-star Jennifer Hudson's talk show November 26 to talk Wicked, the film version of the Broadway musical now in movie theatres starring Erivo as Elphaba. But the duo couldn't help from revisiting their iconic performances from the 2015 revival of The Color Purple, singing again together on their love duet "What About Love?" Watch the performance above.
Erivo, who made her Broadway debut, won a Tony Award, and launched her American career with the revival, thinks back to that heady time in her life with Hudson below.
But don't worry. Erivo talked Wicked, too. Find out about her experience watching herself in the movie musical, what it's like singing while being flown in the air, and more below.
Now in theatres, find tickets to a Wicked screening near you at WickedMovie.com. A soundtrack album also released November 22, and is available on streaming and digital platforms. The second film is set to follow November 21, 2025.
Tony winner Erivo and Grammy winner Ariana Grande co-star as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively. Joining them in the cast are West End Company Olivier winner and Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, SpongeBob SquarePants star Ethan Slater as Boq, Emmy winner Peter Dinklage as Dr. Dillamond, 2023 Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard, and newcomer Marissa Bode as Nessarose, the first wheelchair-using actor in the musical's history to take on the role.
READ: Behind the Broadway Cameos and the New Song in the Wicked Movie
Stage and screen star Keala Settle, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Aaron Teoh, and Colin Michael Carmichael are also in the cast, with Settle as Miss Coddle, Carmichael as Professor Nikidik, and Yang, James, and Teoh as Shiz students Pfannee, ShenShen, and Avaric, respectively.
The screen adaptation, which includes new songs by Stephen Schwartz, is helmed by In the Heights screen director Jon M. Chu. Wicked book writer Winnie Holzman has penned the screenplay with Dana Fox, and Tony winner Paul Tazewell designed the costumes.
READ: The Wicked Film Features an 80-Member Orchestra—And the Full Overture
Wicked, injecting a new backstory onto the classic tale The Wizard of Oz, debuted on Broadway in 2003 and continues to be an audience favorite at the Gershwin Theatre. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, the musical features music and lyrics by Schwartz and a book by Holzman. The original cast included Tony winners Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively. The musical is now the fourth longest-running production in Broadway history.
The show won 2004 Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical (Menzel), Best Costume Design (Susan Hilferty), and Best Scenic Design (Eugene Lee).
