Cynthia Erivo is set to narrate a new audiobook edition of Wicked, the acclaimed 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, which inspired the popular stage musical and its two-part film adaptation. Erivo, who stars as Elphaba in the movie, will bring the dark and immersive world of Wicked to life for listeners in a fresh and exciting format. The audiobook is scheduled for release on 1 July, according to Variety.
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Erivo expressed her excitement about the project, stating, “I’m incredibly excited to narrate Wicked, especially after having had the privilege of portraying Elphaba on screen. I feel deeply connected to Elphaba. We have been on quite the journey together, and now I’m eager to begin an adventure with her whilst exploring the full world of Wicked and its myriad of other characters in the audiobook.” She added, “I’m looking forward to bringing this incredible story to life in a new way for listeners, and I hope it resonates as deeply with them as I know it will with me.”
The original Wicked novel is much darker than its stage and film adaptations. It offers a more complex and layered biography of the Wicked Witch of the West, or Elphaba, exploring her backstory in depth. The recent film adaptation of Wicked, which premiered in November, garnered 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Actress for Erivo and Best Supporting Actress for Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda. The sequel to the film, titled Wicked: For Good, is expected to be released in cinemas this November.
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In the midst of the Wicked excitement, Matilda: The Musical’s Alisha Weir recently addressed rumours suggesting she would play Dorothy Gale in the upcoming Wicked sequel. Weir responded, “When I saw the rumour, I thought this is absolutely crazy, and it went so crazy on social media, and everyone was asking me. I mean that would be wonderful… I am such a big fan of Wicked, and I saw the first one with my family. I am such a big fan of Jon Chu’s work and Ariana Grande and Cynthia, but that would be pretty cool.”
