AceShowbiz - Amid production delays and grueling schedules, stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo persevered through COVID-19 infections to bring the Broadway hit "Wicked" to the big screen. During a joint interview with The New York Times, Grande and Erivo revealed that they tested positive for COVID-19 at separate times. Erivo fell ill before filming her iconic performance of "Defying Gravity", while Grande's infection occurred prior to the equally critical "Popular".

Despite their illnesses, both stars emphasized that the characters of Glinda and Elphaba remained deeply ingrained within them. "The second we got back into those clothes, the characters were right there with us," said Grande.

Erivo expressed a sense of gratitude for the delay in production caused by the pandemic. "It felt like the rest we needed," she said. "We'd worked ourselves to the bone."

In addition to the COVID challenges, the making of the two-part musical film also faced delays due to the industry labor strikes. However, the cast, which includes Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh and Peter Dinklage, persevered.

Erivo and Grande acknowledged the grueling production process but expressed immense satisfaction with their performances. "We cried every minute, every hour," said Grande. "We both were in a horrible state for a few days."

Despite the challenges, they remain committed to their roles and are hopeful that they will become their signature performances. The first part of "Wicked" is scheduled for release on November 22, followed by the second part on November 26, 2025.