‘That Movie Rocked Us’: Adam Sandler Gushes To Ariana Grande About Her Wicked: For Good Performance

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Jon M. Chu’s film adaptations of Wicked have had a significant impact on audiences. Following a record-breaking opening for Part One in 2024, the second film continued to be a massive success when released last month. The story of Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship has resonated not only with moviegoers but also with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s fellow actors, including Adam Sandler, who praised Grande’s work on Wicked: For Good.

Adam Sandler and Ariana Grande recently chatted for Variety and CNN’s “Actors on Actors.” Though they appeal to different audiences, Sandler was full of compliments for Grande’s performance as Glinda in the movie Wicked: For Good. He told her:

We spent a lot of time discussing how deeply these two characters cared for each other, and we’ll continue to explore all aspects of the film. But honestly, that movie was amazing! There were so many visually stunning scenes. The ending, in particular, was a series of about six or seven shots designed to really pull at your heartstrings and make you fully immerse yourself in the emotion of the scene. I personally find it challenging to cry on cue. Ariana, do you find it difficult to tap into those emotions immediately when the director calls ‘Action’?

It’s clear that when Adam Sandler says “we,” he’s usually talking about his family – his wife, Jackie, and their daughters, Sadie and Sunny. They’ve all started appearing in his films, which is fun to see. I especially enjoyed hearing they’ve watched both Wicked and Wicked: For Good and talked about the loving relationship between Glinda and Elphaba.

Adam Sandler commented on how emotionally demanding the final scenes were for Ariana Grande’s character, acknowledging the effort required to maintain such intense feelings during filming. Grande herself, while admitting she’s naturally prone to tears, explained that accessing those emotions for a role isn’t always easy. She then shared:

I needed to clearly understand her past trauma so I could respond to her pain, not my own. I’m not able to draw on personal experiences like that when I’m working.

It’s a really thoughtful and effective approach to portray Glinda’s feelings by specifically focusing on her own past trauma, rather than drawing on the actor’s personal experiences – something many actors have tried and sometimes later wished they hadn’t.

It’s been wonderful seeing the close friendship develop between Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo over the past year. I especially enjoyed seeing Grande interviewed with Adam Sandler, as he’s always very open about his affection for his friends.

I’m so excited that Ariana Grande is currently starring in Wicked: For Good! You can still catch it in theaters, and now Wicked: Part I is also available to stream if you have a Prime Video subscription. And if that wasn’t enough, Adam Sandler has a new film out too – he and George Clooney are in Jay Kelly, which you can watch on Netflix. It’s a great time for movie fans!

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2025-12-06 04:08