Ariana Grande talks about paparazzi using hand gliders to fly over the set of Wicked with a GoPro

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Ariana Grande talks about filming “Wicked” (Image via Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images)

Ariana Grande recently revealed an incident that took place while she was filming the movie Wicked. Grande recalled seeing a man on a hand glider with a GoPro flying over the Wicked set in an attempt to get set photos.

In a conversation with her co-star Jonathan Bailey for a V Magazine feature, published on Wednesday, August 21, Grande recalled how paparazzi did next-level stunts to leak pictures of their upcoming musical film. She said:

"It felt so small and private until all of a sudden, we were outside, and the Daily Mail was hand gliding over our set."

The singer-actress jokingly suggested that the person could have the chops to play the pterodactyl in Wicked. Jonathan Bailey also recalled the bizarre event while they were filming the musical, saying that it was a man riding a massive kite. He said that he was "floating around with his legs hanging down."

Shocked about what she was seeing at the time, Ariana Grande added:

"I couldn't believe my eyes. Well, firstly because I don't have the best eyes. But secondly, because there's no way! I was like, 'Ah, [a] guy on a hand glider.'"

Bailey also mentioned the guy having GoPro on his toes, likely to get some footage from the set.


Ariana Grande talks about filming Wicked and her co-stars

Part 1 of Ariana Grande's much-anticipated musical is set to hit movie theaters in November this year with Part 2 scheduled for November 2025. The singer stars as Glinda the Good Witch in the movie, a character that Grande has been committed to portray. She previously opened up about having to transform her voice to audition for Glinda's role.

As for the filming of the musical, she recalled her first day of filming Wicked to Variety in May, saying:

"All I remember was holding hands with Cynthia [Erivo] and Jon [Chu] and crying. And [Jon] saying, 'Welcome to Wicked.'"

She also talked about her chemistry with co-star Cynthia Erivo, who is playing the character of Elphaba, aka the Wicked Witch of the West. The 7 Rings singer said that Erivo is "truly" her sister and that they found things that they need from each other. She also told Variety in May that Erivo "humanizes" Elphaba's character.

While she kept spoilers for the movie close to her heart, Ariana Grande dished on what it was like to work on the Wicked set. She told Vogue at the Met Gala that it was "the most extraordinary, transformative, and beautiful experience" she's ever had in her life. She also expressed her love for the project, adding that she's loved Wicked since she was around ten.

Meanwhile, composer Stephen Schwartz, who has worked on the Wicked film adaptation, is impressed with Grande's performance in the film. He told The Times of London in July that Grande and Erivo's performances in the film are "unassailable."

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