It has been a minute since fans last saw Ariana Grande on screen, acting. She has even admitted that she does not see herself making pop music at the same pace she did over the past decade for the next 10 years, either. That said, the singer is not only making a return to her acting roots as Glinda in the upcoming Wicked, but is also taking her music in a new direction, leaning into a more operatic sound than we are used to hearing from her with the Universal project. And now, as if that was not enough, Wicked has dropped yet another surprise. 

Ariana Grande’s Wicked is covering all the bases to turn this Christmas into a full-on musical festival for fans with their latest announcement.

Wicked is about to hit the screens on November 22, but that is just the beginning of what is in store for the franchise. Universal Pictures has just announced that they will be hosting special sing-along screenings of Wicked this Christmas. According to Variety, fans will have the opportunity to sing along to their favorite songs from the film, such as ‘Popular,’ ‘The Wizard and I,’ and ‘Defying Gravity,’ in approximately 1,000 theaters across North America. This is not the first time a major studio has done this for musical fans. 

The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman, also hosted a similar sing-along event, which was a massive hit across the country. The only downside with Wicked, however, is that its first release only covers Act One, so fans will have to wait until 2025 to hear songs like ‘No Good Deed,’ ‘For Good,’ and other hits from Act Two. There are also some potential challenges that could arise with the release of the second part.

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Splitting a movie into two parts is nothing new, but it comes with its risks. However, Wicked might sidestep the biggest of those concerns.

The decision to split Wicked into two films was made to give the original story the space it deserves. Director Jon M. Chu explained that the musical’s complex plot, deep character development, and iconic songs would be better explored in two films instead of just trying to cram everything into one. However, splitting a story like this can sometimes lead to uneven pacing, as one might have all the big moments, while the other could feel slow or lacking momentum. A similar issue was seen with Netflix's Stranger Things back in 2022. 

With Wicked, though, the first part focuses on the characters in school, and the second dives into the aftermath of their decisions when they meet the Wizard. This way, despite building on the first half, the follow-up could feel more natural and significant. And if done right, this decision could make the film version even better than the musical it is based on.

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What do you think of this Wicked Christmas surprise? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!