The main stars of Wicked have had their pay packets confirmed by production bosses.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have left fans astounded with their phenomenal performances in the film adaptation of the hit musical. The movie, which debuted in cinemas earlier this month has already raked in millions, as many are thrilled to see the production finally hit the screens after years of hard work.
However, following the release of the film, rumours began to swirl that Cynthia and Ariana were paid unequal amounts despite their starring roles in the movie. Now, a spokesperson for the Universal Pictures production company has set the record straight.
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In a statement given to Rolling Stone on Tuesday (November 26), the production company dismissed speculation of the uneven pay between the stars and insisted everyone was paid equally. The short statement cleared up any confusion, as the film continues to make huge numbers at the box office.
"Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet fodder," the spokesperson said. "The women received equal pay for their work on Wicked."
While the spokesperson did not go into detail on how much the women were paid for their work on the film, they clarified that rumours were categorically untrue. It came after users on TikTok and Reddit speculated that Ariana had earned a cool $15million to star in the film, whilst Cynthia had only earned $1million; figures that were falsely reported in the media shortly afterwards.
Fans have been revelling in the new adaptation of the musical, which serves as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, which first hit cinemas back in 1939. The plot of the film is taken from the 1995 novel Wicked by Gregory Maguire, which was translated onto the theatre stage to become a hit on Broadway and the West End.
The film - which also stars other Hollywood heavyweights including Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum - is the first of two parts of the story that make up the overall musical. Cynthia, known for her illustrious career onstage, plays Elphaba - an ostracised student, who becomes good pals with Glinda, played by hitmaker Ariana.
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While at first the pair do not seem to get on, the duo eventually bond over a dance duet and a makeover, and after some time the pair become best mates. But things eventually turn sour for the pair when they head to the Emerald City to visit the Wizard, played by acting legend Goldblum.
On its opening weekend, Wicked brought in an eye-watering $164million at the box office; making this the third largest opening weekend of all time. The second instalment of the film is set to hit screens on November 21, 2025.
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