Ariana Grande Says Paparazzi Used Hang-Gliders to Fly Over the ‘Wicked’ Set and Take Videos: ‘I Couldn’t Believe My Eyes’

As a theater enthusiast who has grown up cherishing the magic of musicals, I am nothing short of thrilled about the upcoming “Wicked” movie adaptation. The behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the set, such as the daring paparazzi antics, only serve to heighten my anticipation. Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey’s accounts of a hang-gliding photographer invading their intimate set, reminiscent of a pterodactyl from “Jurassic Park,” are both shocking and amusing.


As a die-hard movie enthusiast, I’ve been blown away by the antics of some photographers who seem to have upped their game in the pursuit of leaked photos and footage from the filming of Universal’s highly anticipated “Wicked” musical adaptation. In a candid conversation with VMan magazine, cast members Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey shared their astonishment over the daring paparazzi who took to hang-gliding above the “Wicked” set one day.

As a movie aficionado, I can’t help but express my gratitude for the unique experience of working with director Jon M. Chu on this two-part musical. It seemed like a cozy, clandestine production among friends – so intimate and small. It wasn’t until we stepped outside that the world, represented by the Daily Mail, swooped in, literally hanging over our set from a hang glider! If only Jon could consider bringing his magic to play the pterodactyl in your next blockbuster, ‘Jurassic Park’.

In the upcoming “Jurassic World” film, where Bailey shares the screen with Scarlett Johansson, he described an encounter with a paparazzi who was photographing him from a hang glider as: “A man soaring through the air on a giant kite, dangling his legs, equipped with a GoPro camera…attached to his feet.”

“Grande exclaimed in disbelief, “I simply couldn’t comprehend what I was seeing!” She added, “Firstly, my eyesight isn’t the best. But secondly, it seemed impossible. It seemed impossible! It looked like a man on a hang glider to me.”

The musical “Wicked” is a story that comes before “The Wizard of Oz,” focusing on the complex relationship between Elphaba, portrayed by Cynthia Erivo (also known as the Wicked Witch of the West), and Glinda, played by Grande. In this production, Bailey takes on the role of their ambitious classmate and love interest, Fiyero.

He expressed his admiration for specific aspects of it, attributing this appreciation to the dedication and affection shown by producer Marc Platt and Jon Chu. Growing up with a deep love for theater and musicals, he had anticipated that the creative process might diminish this enchantment. However, he found himself immersed in those remarkable sets.

In an interview with Vanity Fair earlier this year, Chu clarified that the cast sang live on set during the filming of the musical scenes. He warned Erivo and Grande about potential issues like wind in their vocal cords, to which they replied with assurance, saying “Yes, that’s what we do.”

Chu remarked, “What you’re hearing is genuine singing.” During filming, they expressed, “Forget the prerecorded tracks, let’s do it live instead.”

The initial “Wicked” film is set to debut in cinemas on November 22, courtesy of Universal Pictures. For a comprehensive read of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s interview, visit VMan’s website.

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2024-08-21 23:17