Drew Barrymore is surprising people alongside Ariana Grande.
The talk show presenter invited the “Wicked” star onto her program to chat about the successful movie musical, during which she presented the singer with a heartfelt gift — the original wand of Glinda from the beloved 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz.”
Grande will portray Glinda opposite Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba in “Wicked,” the record-breaking film version of the acclaimed Broadway show.
Barrymore mentioned that the wand had once belonged to the Smithsonian before being passed into private ownership, but was loaned to “The Drew Barrymore Show.”
Are you excited about ‘Wicked’? Here’s the latest on the Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo film.
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The thoughtful gesture left the pop star momentarily speechless until she regained her composure. “Are you joking right now?” Grande then humorously walked off carrying the wand: “Thanks, everyone, it’s been great.”
Grande and Erivo have been candid about their emotional experiences during the press tour for “Wicked,” describing the filmmaking journey as “transformative.”
Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good in the “Wicked” movie musical.
“Some folks think we need to be committed. People believe we should be locked away,” Grande shared with Buzzfeed UK last month.
“We have counselors. This is alright. We’re just incredibly happy,” added Erivo. Grande further stated: “We’re okay. We’re simply thankful to people.”
From left, Margaret Hamilton, Judy Garland, and Billie Burke in “The Wizard of Oz,” 1939, Turner Ent. Co.
Last month, “Wicked” opened with $114 million in the U.S. and Canada and $164.2 million worldwide, setting a record for a film adapted from a Broadway musical, and achieving one of the highest-grossing second weekends in history.
It marked the best opening weekend for a movie derived from a Broadway musical, surpassing the global debut of Universal’s 2012 film “Les Miserables,” according to the studio.
With “Gladiator II,” an unofficial double feature affectionately dubbed “Glicked” by fans, the films collectively earned $169.5 million at domestic theaters, contributing to a total weekend box office of $201.9 million. This represents the highest-grossing weekend in North America since the July release of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” based on Comscore data.
