Actors Who Auditioned for Roles in WICKED

Even before Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande formed their unique bond on the set of the film adaptation of Wicked, numerous actresses who grew up idolizing songs like Popular and Defying Gravity vied for the iconic roles from the Broadway musical. For Grande, Erivo, and the rest of the stellar cast to truly triumph in Jon M. Chu’s latest production and dazzle musical enthusiasts with their outstanding performances of the classic songs, many well-known actors had to come to terms with losing out on their dream roles. Which stars auditioned for roles in the film version of Wicked? You’ll find out in today’s article.

Amanda Seyfried – Glinda

The actress who played young Sophie in the musical Mamma Mia! and Cosette in the film adaptation of Les Misérables as Glinda in the iconic Wicked?! Amanda Seyfried, who wowed audiences alongside Meryl Streep in 2008 with her performance in the adaptation of one of the most frequently staged musicals, still holds a deep fondness for singing and dancing on film sets. Some time ago, the actress revealed to the media that while filming the series The Dropout—for which she was awarded an Emmy—she also auditioned for the coveted role of Glinda.
“I wanted it so badly that I thought, ‘You know what? Yes, I have to shoot the final scene of The Dropout on Tuesday. But on Sunday, I’ll be entirely yours.’ I literally stood on my head, juggling the hardest role of my life at the same time,” Seyfried said. Ultimately, her role as Elizabeth Holmes in the Hulu series opened an entirely new chapter in her career, while musical Glinda, as she admitted, remains her unfulfilled acting dream.

Reneé Rapp – Glinda

Reneé Rapp, best known for HBO’s The Sex Lives of College Girls, also auditioned for the role of the Good Witch of the South. The breakthrough in the American actress’s career was her role as Regina George in the Broadway musical Mean Girls, a role she reprised in the 2024 film version of Mean Girls. Like many other actresses, Rapp had to come to terms with losing the prestigious role, but her reaction to Ariana Grande’s casting made it clear she held no grudges against her competitor.
“Ariana is going to be freaking amazing. I’m so excited,” Rapp said on Watch What Happens Live.

Taylor Louderman – Glinda

Taylor Louderman is another actress with a stellar musical theater resume. In 2017, she took on the role of Lauren in Kinky Boots, and the following year, she starred on Broadway as Regina George in Mean Girls (later replaced by Reneé Rapp). Adding another classic to her repertoire was crucial for the actress, a sentiment she expressed in a controversial social media post. After Ariana Grande’s casting was announced, Louderman did not hide her disappointment with the producers’ decision.
“This business… You can’t take any role you’re auditioning for too seriously (or you’ll get hurt and not recover), but you have to care enough to give it your all. This time, I cared too much,” Louderman wrote on Instagram.

Dove Cameron – Glinda

Before launching her music career, Dove Cameron was primarily known for her work in Disney Channel productions during her teenage years. It was likely during this time that her dream of portraying Glinda was born, as she discussed in an interview. Preparing for what she called the role of a lifetime was an exceptionally demanding process that lasted longer than any of her previous projects.
The actress, who years ago played one of the main characters in Hairspray Live!—where Kristin Chenoweth, the original Broadway Glinda, also appeared—was reportedly recommended to the Wicked director by Chenoweth herself. Nonetheless, Ariana Grande ultimately won the prestigious role, despite being Cameron’s close friend.

Cristin Milioti – Elphaba

Following her brilliant performance in last year’s The Penguin, landing the role of Elphaba would likely have been a continuation of Cristin Milioti’s streak of outstanding acting achievements. A critical part of the audition process was performing one of the musical’s most challenging songs, the iconic Defying Gravity. Unfortunately, despite weeks of preparation, the demanding vocals at the song’s climax proved too extreme for Milioti’s voice. As she later recounted, “The sound that came out of my throat that day will probably haunt me on my deathbed.” Nonetheless, Milioti approaches her audition failure with humor and grace—Wicked remains one of her all-time favorite musicals.

Lady Gaga – Elphaba

Among all the candidates for the two main female roles, Lady Gaga likely came the closest to signing a contract and securing a role in Jon M. Chu’s blockbuster adaptation. While the actress and singer recently faced criticism for her involvement in the widely panned Joker sequel, her performances in A Star Is Born and House of Gucci prove that Stefani Germanotta is a true chameleon, both on stage and when collaborating with top-tier contemporary directors.

Gaga was offered the role of Elphaba early on, back when Stephen Daldry was still attached to the project. The Green Witch was reportedly hers without even auditioning—she had several initial meetings with the director to discuss their vision for the character. However, when Daldry stepped down in 2020 due to scheduling conflicts, Gaga’s journey with the musical adaptation also came to an end.

Joe and Nick Jonas – Fiyero

The Jonas Brothers, known for their long-standing musical collaboration, found themselves as fierce rivals during auditions for the dashing role of Fiyero in Wicked. Their vocal talents are undeniable, and Nick, in particular, has a history of appearing in notable musical productions as a child. Seeing one of the brothers in such a high-budget and beloved musical adaptation would have been an intriguing experiment.

However, aside from Nick’s appearance in Midway, neither has taken on many ambitious acting projects outside of productions like Camp Rock. This might have been a factor in their rejection. Or perhaps Jonathan Bailey’s captivating interpretation of Fiyero so thoroughly impressed the casting team that neither Jonas could compete. While we can’t say for certain, most would agree that Bailey earned his cinematic breakthrough.

Ryan McCartan – Fiyero

Ryan McCartan had dreamed of being part of Broadway’s Wicked since its first performances debuted when the budding actor was just 10 years old. In 2018, his dream came true when he took on the role of Prince Fiyero in celebration of the musical’s 15th anniversary on Broadway.

McCartan also auditioned for the role in the film adaptation, but this time, he had to accept defeat. “Jon M. Chu didn’t cast me, even though I worked really hard. It’s okay; I have no hard feelings,” McCartan shared on The Stare Door podcast. “I did audition… It’s just one of many, many things I didn’t get.”