Cynthia Erivo Explains Her Reaction On Fan-Edited ‘Wicked’ Poster

October 30, 2024: Cynthia Erivo, the star of Wicked, recently expressed her disappointment over a fan-edited movie poster that obscures her face.

Addressing the issue, she emphasized her deep connection to her role as Elphaba and her desire to protect the character. “I’m passionate about it, and I know the fans are passionate about it,” she explained, acknowledging her emotional reaction to the altered poster.

The original poster, released by Universal Pictures and directed by Jon M. Chu, pays homage to the Broadway musical, but the fan edit hides Erivo’s eyes and much of her face to align more closely with the animated version. Erivo pointed out the importance of human connection through visual expression, stating, “I chose to look right down the barrel of the camera … because without words, we communicate with our eyes.”

She expressed that editing her face in such a way feels like erasure, describing it as “deeply hurtful.” Erivo further criticized the trend, comparing it to other disrespectful online content and emphasizing that it is not funny or cute, but degrading to both herself and her co-star, Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda.

Wicked is a film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical, exploring the complex relationship between Elphaba and Glinda in the land of Oz. The movie is set to hit theaters on November 27, with a second part planned for release on November 26, 2025.