Cynthia Erivo spoke out against unauthorized edits made to promotional materials for the upcoming film adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked.” Erivo plays the lead role of Elphaba in the highly anticipated movie. When some fans edited the official movie poster in an attempt to mimic the original Broadway version, Erivo took to social media to voice her criticism.
The original movie poster features Erivo gazing directly at the camera as Elphaba. In the Broadway version, Elphaba’s eyes are partially obscured by her hat. But some fans digitally edited the movie poster to hide Erivo’s eyes behind her hat. Erivo said these edits made her feel “erased.” She stated on Instagram that the movie poster was intended as an homage, not an imitation, of the Broadway version.
Erivo’s message emphasized she is a “real life human being” who chose to look straight at the audience. Without words, she said, we communicate through our eyes. She called the edits “the wildest, most offensive thing” she’s seen and that it “degrades” her and others. As the lead role, Erivo said fans should respect the creative choices of those producing the film.
The first part of the “Wicked” film adaptation is set for release on November 22, 2024. The star-studded production is directed by Jon M. Chu and also features Ariana Grande as Glinda. Erivo’s response highlights ongoing challenges faced by actors of color and questions around fan activities and creative ownership. She encouraged fans to appreciate the filmmakers’ original vision for promotional materials.
