Jon M. Chu’s much-anticipated and star-studded musical epic Wicked saw its Los Angeles premiere Saturday, held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
In attendance were Part 1‘s main cast — in hues of iridescent pink and lush green — including powerhouse duo Ariana Grande (who portrays Glinda the Good Witch) and Cynthia Erivo (playing Elphaba), as well as Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum and Ethan Slater. Bowen Yang was not pictured in attendance, likely due to his commitments as a featured player on Saturday Night Live. However, one of the most notable absences was that of helmer Chu, who had a bit of a scheduling conflict as he awaited the birth of his fifth child.
Also gracing the red carpet were original Broadway cast members Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, who originated Glinda and Elphaba’s roles onstage.
Releasing Nov. 22 in theaters, the adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway production — itself based on Gregory Maguire’s bestselling novel, which retells the story of The Wizard of Oz from the point of view of the Wicked Witch of the West — follows Elphaba and Glinda’s relationship prior to their eventual destinies.
Speaking to Deadline ahead of the premiere, stars Erivo and Grande gushed about their real-life friendship forged through the film’s intimacy and emotional honesty: “For some reason, we just connected immediately. Our voices really worked together. And I think from that moment on, we’ve been building, and it’s been the most fruitful relationship of my life,” Erivo said.
Scroll below to see the red carpet looks from the LA premiere:
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images British actress and singer Cynthia Erivo (L) and US singer-songwriter and actress Ariana Grande attend Universal’s Wicked premiere at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, November 9, 2024.
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Ariana Grande
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Cynthia Erivo
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Jonathan Bailey
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Michelle Yeoh
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Jeff Goldblum
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Ethan Slater
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Kristin Chenoweth
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Idina Menzel
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Ariana Grande’s family, including Edward Butera, Joan Grande and Frankie Grande
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Bronwyn James
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Ashley Tisdale
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey and Ariana Grande share a laugh on the red carpet
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images (L-R): Cast members Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey and Bronwyn James
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Sheryl Lee Ralph
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Marissa Bode
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Troye Sivan
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Hayley Kiyoko
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Jenn Tran
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Lena Waithe
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Costume designer Paul Tazewell
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Cinematographer Alice Brooks
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Normani
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Sophia Bush
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images (L-R) Kevin McHale and Austin P. McKenzie
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Alyah Scott
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Chrishell Stause
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Karrueche Tran
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Michaela Jaé Rodriguez
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Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Wicked’
Image Credit: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Victoria Monét and daughter Hazel Monét