I will never not love the way the Wicked press tour took a life of its own. This, by the way, is what movie studio marketing departments want to happen, and some are more successful than others. The Barbie press tour, for example, was widely praised for its, well, Barbie-ness. Margot Robbie’s wardrobe wasn’t the only factor in its popularity. It was also jokes, the “Ken”-ing of every word, every expression, everything.
Just this past summer, to promote Deadpool & Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman took their friendship on tour and the marketing for that movie seemed like it was just about the way they take the piss out of each other than it was about the characters and the stunts. Sorry, but I don’t remember anyone bitching about the overdose of those two travelling around the world out-insulting each other. Which is why I don’t have much time for all the complaining about Wicked and Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande's over-the-top theatre kid energy through their press engagements.
It's good to see, then, that now that the movie is out, and the theatre nerds are happy with it and everyone else who wasn’t familiar is now discovering the story, that we seem – at least I think so? – to have turned a corner on the mocking and just fully embraced the beautiful chaos and cheese that these two have been serving.
Their love for each other, the way they keep touching each other, holding onto each other, crying with each other is, for me, one of the best events in a year that has given us so much disappointment and so much to be afraid of. You can earnestly just go with the extra-ness of this friendship or you can join in on the fun of it not being your speed but also just the most wonderfully batsh-t display of feeeeelingsss as its own show.
Speaking of shows…
Drew Barrymore’s is PERFECT for that kind of ooey gooey love that Cynthia and Ariana have been sharing. Cynthia was on with Drew earlier this week and it gets more and more hilarious the closer and closer she inches to her guest. Drew wants in on this friendship, bad.
@thedrewbarrymoreshow @Cynthia Erivo on her connection with her @Wicked Movie co-star @arianagrande 💚 Tune in next Tuesday for more! #cynthiaerivo #wickedmovie #arianagrande #drewbarrymore
♬ original sound - thedrewbarrymoreshow
Yesterday it was Ari’s turn, and Drew surprised her with the original Glinda wand and, as expected, there was squealing and gasping and every single emotion Celine Dion has ever invented and if you’re not sure whether or not this is legit or a sketch on Saturday Night Live, well, that’s exactly the point. Give yourself over to the absurdity. We’re having a great time over here.
@thedrewbarrymoreshow Drew surprises @arianagrande with Glinda’s wand from The Wizard of Oz ✨ Tune in this Thursday (Dec. 5) for more! #arianagrande #wickedmovie #wizardofoz #drewbarrymore
♬ original sound - thedrewbarrymoreshow
But one final note on business – as mentioned in my post about Emilia Pérez today, Wicked has so much momentum right now at the box office but also on the Oscar trail. Ariana is looking very competitive in the Best Supporting Actress category. So 2025 is probably going to bring more of the wild Wicked friendship tour. And we’re all going to need it considering the filth that’s incoming in January.
