Wicked: For Good - Erivo and Grande Poised to Make Oscar History
The highly anticipated Wicked: For Good is set to premiere in the U.S. on November 21, featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in leading roles. Both actresses were previously nominated for their performances in the original Wicked, with Erivo as Elphaba and Grande as Galinda/Glinda. If they receive nominations for the 98th Academy Awards, they will join a select group of actors who have been recognized for playing the same character in different films.
Erivo and Grande could make history by becoming the first actors to be nominated for the same role in consecutive years since Bing Crosby in the 1940s. Additionally, they would be only the second and third female actors to achieve this feat, following Cate Blanchett's double nominations for portraying Queen Elizabeth I. If Grande secures a nomination, she would become the youngest actor to receive two nods for the same role in Oscar history, surpassing Al Pacino's record. Erivo, on the other hand, would become the second English actor to achieve this milestone after Peter O'Toole.
The original Wicked garnered 10 Oscar nominations, including a nod for best picture, and won awards for best costume design and best production design. The list of actors who have received Oscar nominations for playing the same character in two different films includes Bing Crosby for his role as Father Charles "Chuck" O'Malley in Going My Way and The Bells of St. Mary's, Peter O'Toole for portraying King Henry II in Becket and The Lion in Winter, Al Pacino for his portrayal of Michael Corleone in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, Paul Newman for playing "Fast Eddie" Felson in The Hustler and The Color of Money, and Cate Blanchett for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age.
As the buzz around Wicked: For Good continues to grow, all eyes will be on Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as they potentially make Oscar history with their performances in the beloved musical.