Ariana Grande rejected a major change that composer Stephen Schwartz wanted to make to one of Wicked’s most iconic songs when she took on the role of Glinda the Good.
In a recent interview with The Los Angeles Times, Schwartz revealed that his music team suggested updating Popular to give it a ‘hip-hop’ style and the 31-year-old singer, who has been tipped to receive an Oscar nomination for her role, flat out refused to sing it.
During the chat, the legendary composer and the film’s director, Jon M. Chu, also discussed certain aspects of the movie – including the much-loved music, which fans were certainly familiar with thanks to the Broadway show.
Referring to Popular, Schwartz said: ‘In the spirit of being open to new things for the movie, my music team and I thought, “Let’s refresh the rhythm. Let’s, maybe, I don’t know, hip-hop it up a little bit.”
‘Ariana said, “Absolutely not, don’t do it. I want to be Glinda, not Ariana Grande playing Glinda.”‘
However, he managed to negotiate with the Into You hitmaker and confirmed that the song’s altered ending, in which the key changes three times, gave Ariana’s Glinda an opportunity to hit an operatic high note.
‘I had this idea for a new vocal ending. Ariana was a little hesitant about it, but I told her that if I had thought of it for the original show, this is how it would have been,’ Schwartz said.
‘Once she was reassured that this new bit of music was coming out of character, she was on board.’
Ariana Grande rejected a major change that composer Stephen Schwartz wanted to be made to one of Wicked’s most iconic songs when she took on the role of Glinda the Good
Ariana portrays the role of Galinda Upland while Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba Thropp
Elsewhere in the interview, director Jon M. Chu praised the pop star for her portrayal of the Good Witch.
‘You could tell in her audition that she had Glinda instinctively in her, maybe not yet the Glinda you see in the movie,’ he said.
‘I thought I might have to guide her a little bit, but then, on the first day of rehearsals, she arrived as Glinda.
‘I felt like I had met Glinda in real life, and that the show was based off of this girl! She’s never led a movie before – how can a person this green come into this and be that consistent and so involved?’
The comments come after Universal Pictures responded to claims that Ariana was paid more than her costar, Cynthia Erivo, who plays the role of Elphaba Thropp.
Amid viral rumors that Cynthia, 37, was paid $1 million while Ariana was given a whopping $15 million, a spokesperson from Universal, the studio behind the film, has denied the claim.
The rumored salaries of each Wicked cast member had gone viral on social media.
‘Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet fodder,’ the spokesperson said in a statement to Variety.
The pop star was reluctant to perform a ‘hip hop’ version of the song Popular because she didn’t want to be ‘Ariana Grande playing Glinda’
Composer Stephen Schwartz (left) pictured with the film’s cast and director Jon M. Chu at the movie’s London premiere on November 18
Universal Pictures has rubbished claims that Ariana was paid more than Cynthia to be in the film
The statement added: ‘The women received equal pay for their work on Wicked.’
However, it is still unclear exactly what salary they were both paid.
The initial rumor had shocked fans because Cynthia’s part was more of a lead role while Ariana was in a supporting role as Glinda the Good Witch.
Further unsubstantiated rumors had suggested that Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum, who play Madame Morrible and the Wizard, respectively, reportedly earned $2 million each.
As for the rest of the main cast members, the viral list alleged that Jonathan Bailey, also known for playing Prince Fiyero, was reportedly earning just under half a million.