Entertainment Movies Musical Movies Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Reveal Wicked Secrets in Behind-the-Scenes Special: How to Watch (Exclusive) 'Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked' airs on NBC Nov. 19, before 'Wicked: Part One' flies into theaters Nov. 22 By Tommy McArdle Tommy McArdle Tommy McArdle is an editorial assistant on the Movies team at PEOPLE. Tommy joined PEOPLE in 2022. People Editorial Guidelines Published on November 11, 2024 09:00AM EST Comments Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are unveiling the movie magic behind the land of Oz and Emerald City. PEOPLE has an exclusive preview of NBC's new special Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked. The special, set to air Tuesday, Nov. 19, will feature stars Erivo, 37, and Grande, 31, joined by much of the cast — including Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Michelle Yeoh and Ethan Slater — as they discuss the film's production and share behind-the-scenes insight into the film from the set. "We're excited to share all of our Wicked secrets with you," Grande said in the clip. PEOPLE’s Wicked Issue Goes Behind the Scenes: Ariana Grande Hid Candy in Her Costume, Cynthia Erivo Baked Cookies (Exclusive) Jonathan Bailey, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in "Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked". Giles Keyte/NBC Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "In celebration of Universal Pictures’ new cinematic event, international superstars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande lead an all-star cast in a spectacular behind-the-scenes journey through Oz for their new film Wicked," an official description of the special teases. The one-night event will also feature an exclusive debut of a scene from the movie before it opens in theaters Nov. 22. The two-part movie musical adaptation of Wicked comes from director Jon M. Chu, who previously made 2021's In the Heights and 2018's Crazy Rich Asians. Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s Tony-winning Broadway musical itself is adapted from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked, a revisionist prequel set in the world of L. Frank Baum’s Oz novels. Ariana Grande Reveals Sentimental Reason She Chose to Go by Her Full Name in Wicked Credits Jonathan Bailey, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Jeff Goldblum in "Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked". Giles Keyte/NBC The film made its world premiere in Australia on Nov. 3. Grande and Erivo recently told The New York Times that they both contracted COVID-19 during the film's production in the days before each was scheduled to film their most important numbers. “I came to set with a mask on my final days of recovery … no one liked this joke but I loved it so I’ll tell it: We were in the dorm room together and I sang in her ear, ‘Positive, you’re going to be positive!’ " Grande joked of her character Glinda's song "Popular." "But I wasn’t positive anymore, don’t worry!" she added. "I took the test.” Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked airs on NBC Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 10 p.m. ET, then streams the following day on Peacock. Wicked: Part One is in theaters Nov. 22, and Wicked: Part Two is set for Nov. 26, 2025. Close