It happened. Finally. After months of grainy paparazzi shots from the Buckinghamshire countryside and endless speculation about vocal chemistry, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande shared the stage at the 96th Academy Awards. They weren't just there to hand out a trophy. No. They were there to plant a flag for the Wicked cinematic universe.
Walking out to the iconic strains of "Defying Gravity," the duo basically stopped the show without singing a single note. It was a calculated, brilliant bit of marketing, but it felt remarkably human because of the sheer height difference and the palpable bond between them. Cynthia, draped in a custom green Louis Vuitton leather gown that looked like it belonged in a high-fashion version of the Emerald City, stood alongside Ariana, who leaned hard into the Glinda aesthetic with a massive, cloud-like pink Giambattista Valli Haute Couture number.
People lost their minds. Honestly, the fashion alone was enough to fuel a week of TikTok discourse, but the real story was the subtext.
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Let's be real: the Oscars are as much about the "vibe shift" as they are about the awards. When Cynthia and Ariana stepped out to present Best Original Score and Best Original Song, they weren't just two actors. They were avatars for a billion-dollar gamble by Universal Pictures.
Jon M. Chu, the director of the two-part film adaptation, has been very vocal about the "sisterhood" between his two leads. You could see it in the way they held hands. It wasn’t that stiff, rehearsed celebrity hand-holding you see at most galas. It felt protective.
Cynthia Erivo is an EGOT-chaser with a powerhouse Broadway pedigree. Ariana Grande is a global pop titan returning to her theater roots. On paper, it’s a collision of two very different worlds. But at the Oscars, they looked like a singular unit. That's the kind of chemistry you can't fake with a publicist's help.
Why the Pink and Green Contrast Actually Matters
Color theory is a huge part of the Wicked lore, obviously. By showing up in Elphaba Green and Glinda Pink, they leaned into "method dressing," a trend we've seen perfected by Margot Robbie for Barbie and Zendaya for Dune.
But here’s the thing: Cynthia’s look was edgy. It had scales. It was a literal nod to the dragon-like resilience of Elphaba. Ariana’s look was soft, voluminous, and almost overwhelming. It represented the "bubble" Glinda lives in. When they stood together, the visual contrast served as a live-action teaser for the dynamic we’re going to see on screen.
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Critics often dismiss this as fluff. It's not. In an era where movie theaters are struggling to get people off their couches, this kind of spectacle builds an "event" mentality. It reminds the audience that Wicked isn't just a movie; it's a cultural moment.
Breaking Down the Presentation Moment
When they got to the microphone, the banter was actually... fine? Usually, Oscar presenter scripts are where humor goes to die. But Cynthia and Ariana kept it professional and surprisingly sincere. They spoke about the power of film music—fitting, given that they were presenting the awards for Score and Song.
Cynthia’s voice has this grounded, resonant authority. Ariana, who has spent the last decade being one of the most famous people on the planet, looked genuinely humbled to be in that room as an actor rather than a pop star.
- The Award for Best Original Song: They handed the Oscar to Billie Eilish and Finneas for "What Was I Made For?" from Barbie.
- The Connection: Seeing the Wicked stars hand an award to the Barbie superstars felt like a passing of the torch from one female-led blockbuster to the next.
It's interesting to note that Ariana has been relatively quiet in the music scene while filming Wicked. This Oscars appearance served as her "I’m back" announcement. But she wasn't coming back as the girl who sang "7 Rings." She was coming back as a serious thespian.
The Vocal Pressure and High Expectations
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the singing. While they didn't perform at the Oscars, the sheer fact of their presence reminded everyone that they chose to sing live on set for the movie.
Stephen Schwartz, the legendary composer of the original Broadway musical, has praised their vocal interpretations. But theater purists are a tough crowd. They remember Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. They remember the soaring rafters of the Gershwin Theatre.
Cynthia Erivo is a Tony winner for The Color Purple. We know she can handle the belt. Ariana is a vocal chameleon. The Oscars appearance was a way to ground their partnership in reality before the vocal pyrotechnics hit the speakers.
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Most people don't realize how grueling the Wicked shoot actually was. They filmed in the UK through various weather delays and the massive scale of practical sets. You could see a bit of that "we survived this together" energy in their interaction.
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For a while, the tabloids tried to cook up a rivalry. It’s the oldest trick in the book: pit two successful women against each other. "Ariana is too much of a diva," or "Cynthia is too serious for Ariana’s pop sensibilities."
The Oscars appearance basically killed those rumors.
You can’t fake the way they look at each other. There’s a mutual respect there that seems to stem from the fact that they are both, at their core, theater nerds. Ariana grew up obsessed with Broadway. Cynthia lived it. At the Oscars, they weren't competing for the spotlight; they were sharing it.
The Impact on "Wicked" Box Office Projections
Industry analysts at places like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter noted a spike in social media engagement for the Wicked trailer immediately following the Oscars.
- Engagement: The "Pink and Green" aesthetic trended on X (formerly Twitter) for 48 hours.
- Demographics: The pairing bridges the gap between Gen Z pop fans and older Broadway enthusiasts.
- Visual Proof: Seeing them in person proved that the casting "works" visually, which was a major concern for fans of the stage show.
Navigating the Hype
Is there such a thing as too much hype? Maybe. We’ve seen movies stumble because they spent too much time on the red carpet and not enough on the script. However, with Jon M. Chu at the helm—the guy who gave us Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights—the visual language is usually pretty solid.
The Oscars appearance was just one stop on a very long road. The film is being released in two parts, which is a controversial move. Some fans think it’s a cash grab. Others think it’s the only way to fit in all the lore from Gregory Maguire’s novel and the stage show.
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By showing up at the Oscars, Cynthia and Ariana signaled that they are ready to carry that weight. They aren't just actors for hire. They are ambassadors.
Making the Most of the Wicked Era
If you're a fan or just a casual observer of the entertainment industry, there are a few things to keep in mind as we head toward the release dates. The Oscars moment was a template for how the next year is going to look.
First, expect more "method dressing." The days of actors wearing just any random designer are over. Every outfit Cynthia and Ariana wear in public will be a breadcrumb. Pay attention to the jewelry—there are often subtle nods to Ozian culture hidden in the details.
Second, watch the interviews. Cynthia Erivo is an incredibly thoughtful speaker when it comes to the politics of the "outsider," which is exactly what Elphaba represents. Her perspective on being a Black woman playing a character who is "green" (and thus ostracized) adds a layer of depth that the movie desperately needs to feel relevant in 2026.
Third, don't sleep on the soundtrack. While the Oscars gave us a visual taste, the real test will be the first full drop of "The Wizard and I."
Next Steps for the Savvy Fan:
- Watch the BTS Footage: Both Cynthia and Ariana have shared snippets of their rehearsals on Instagram. Look for the vocal warm-ups; they reveal a lot about the technicality they're bringing to these roles.
- Track the Fashion: Follow the stylists—Jason Bolden (for Cynthia) and Mimi Cuttrell (for Ariana). They are the architects behind the Oscars looks and will be shaping the "Wicked" aesthetic for the next two years.
- Revisit the Original Text: If you’ve only seen the musical, read Gregory Maguire’s book. It’s much darker, and both actresses have hinted that the film pulls more from the source material than people might expect.
- Monitor the Part 1 vs. Part 2 Split: Keep an eye on the runtime announcements. The Oscars appearance confirmed they are leaning into the "epic" scale, which suggests Part 1 will likely end at the "Defying Gravity" moment, making the wait for Part 2 agonizing but necessary for the story's breathing room.