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While Ariana has been a popular fan cast for Megara since the Hercules live-action was announced, it seems she has her own take on who the role should go to.
Ariana Grande had a massive 2024, and it looks like 2025 will be just as exciting.
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Her two biggest projects from last year — Eternal Sunshine and Wicked — garnered a lot of critical acclaim, and with awards season kicking off, there’s major buzz around the star.
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So far, Ariana has received Golden Globe and SAG award nominations for her performance as Glinda, and a Grammy nomination for her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine.
And with Oscar nominations set to drop this weekend, Ariana’s acting career is a hot topic.
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In a recent conversation with the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, Ariana spoke about her acting career, as well as a yet unreleased deluxe version of Eternal Sunshine. And after being questioned about some potential future roles, she revealed her own top pick for a casting in an upcoming Disney live-action remake.
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Hercules is yet another Disney animated classic to be joining the influx of upcoming live-action remakes, with Marvel masterminds the Russo brothers reportedly set to direct. And fans are already speculating about casting choices.
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While there are currently no confirmed stars attached to the upcoming movie, fans have been conversing and speculating since the film was announced. Last summer, rumors were circulating that Disney was eyeing popstar Dua Lipa to play Megara — Hercules’ sultry-voiced love interest.
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As well as Dua Lipa, there were also many rumors that Ariana — a longtime fan cast — was being considered by the studio for Meg.
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And especially after Ari’s Actors On Actors conversation with Gladiator 2 star Paul Mescal in December, some fans have pointed out that Ariana and Paul would be a perfect double choice for Meg and Hercules.
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When asked about the Hercules remake in her latest conversation with Variety, Ari cleared up the rumors, saying, “I have seen some of that,” referring to the fan casting online. “But it’s never been an actual discussion,” she confirmed.
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"I do think that I would be remiss if I didn’t say this…” she continued. “I think [Elizabeth] Gillies should be Megara.”
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“She’s brilliant. Ugh, god. That would be a fantastic role for her,” Ariana concluded.
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"Do you know my friend Liz Gillies?” Ari asked, referring to her costar on the hit show Victorious, which aired on Nickelodeon from 2010 to 2013. The two have maintained their friendship years after the show reached its conclusion — and knowing this makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
“As much as I really love transforming for a role, and I do love the idea of, you know, a darker sort of – ‘c’ asterisk ‘unty’ role like Megara […] I think Liz Gillies should be Megara,” Ari explained.
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If you’re like me and you grew up watching Victorious, you’ll remember Elizabeth Gillies’ incredible performance as the beautiful and terrifying Jade West: the show’s resident edgy queen. And while Ari definitely has the acting chops to switch it up for a character like Meg, it’s not hard to picture Elizabeth Gillies absolutely devouring the role.
Ariana then started riffing that instead, she should play Danny DeVito’s character in the remake. Yeah, you heard right — the satyr. I don’t know about you, but I’d pay good movie theatre money to see Glinda as Philoctetes.
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She then started singing Phil’s character song, which was super impressive because I don’t know anyone who actually remembers that song. No shade to my glorious king Danny DeVito, of course.
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