As Wicked draws big numbers at the box office, rumors of a sizable pay disparity between the movie's two lead stars have dominated the social media landscape.
The film, which opened on November 22, is a big screen adaptation of the acclaimed Broadway musical Wicked, a retelling of The Wizard of Oz that explores the origins of two iconic witches: Elphaba, also known as the Wicked Witch of the West (played by Cynthia Erivo), and Glinda, the Good Witch (Ariana Grande).
Also featured are Ethan Slater as the Munchkin Boq, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Michelle Yeoh as headmistress Madame Morrible and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard.
Unsubstantiated rumors recently circulated on TikTok and Reddit that Grande was paid $15 million for her role in the Jon M. Chu-directed movie, while Erivo took home a comparatively paltry $1 million. Adding credence to the chatter, a number of media outlets reported on the rumors.
However, a spokesperson for Universal Pictures, which distributed the film, has shot down the rumors, revealing that Grande and Erivo received the same pay.
"Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet fodder," the representative told The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday. "The women received equal pay for their work on Wicked."
Newsweek has contacted representatives of Erivo and Grande via email for comment.
According to Box Office Mojo, Wicked has joined the list of all-time-biggest box-office openings, ranking in the top 100. During the weekend of November 22 to 24, the film premiered with an estimated $114 million in domestic ticket sales, marking the highest opening weekend for a Broadway adaptation at the box office.
As of press time, Wicked has earned the 63rd highest-grossing opening weekend of all time in the U.S., beating the opening weekend box-office hauls of such big screen hits as Toy Story 3, Shrek 2 and Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith.
The movie will be followed by Wicked: Part Two, which is scheduled to premiere in theaters on November 21, 2025.
In the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz—itself an adaptation of the L. Frank Baum novel—a key feature is Dorothy Gale's magical ruby slippers, given to her by Glinda to help her get home. However, in the newly released Wicked, the slippers are silver, which has become a talking point on social media in recent days.
Elsewhere in the new movie, there are also a few surprise cameos. When Elphaba and Glinda arrive at Oz's capital, Emerald City, they are serenaded by a group of people. Among these figures are Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who played Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, in the original Broadway production in 2003.
Like many big-budget feature films before it, Wicked was the focus of an international marketing blitz that included themed Starbucks beverages, and Erivo and Grande popping up at various events. Actors who have previously starred in the musical on Broadway also appeared at premiere events.
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