At a Glance
- Cynthia Erivo says she won’t reprise her Wicked movie role on Broadway
- She calls stepping aside “a gift” so other actresses can play Elphaba
- Next: a one-woman Dracula in London’s West End where she plays 23 characters
- Why it matters: Her decision opens the door for fresh talent while she pivots to an ambitious stage challenge
After dazzling audiences in Wicked: For Good, Cynthia Erivo has confirmed she’s finished with Elphaba’s broomstick, clearing the runway for new stars to take flight on Broadway.
No Broadway Broomstick
During a recent The View appearance, the 38-year-old actor explained why a Broadway transfer isn’t in the cards:
> “I feel like it would be a little selfish. We’ve been given such a gift with this film version, and everyone is seeing it.”
She believes the screen adaptation’s popularity will inspire more performers to pursue the role, creating space for fresh faces rather than recycling her own.
**The View hosts praised the stance:
- Joy Behar: “[It gives] someone else the opportunity.”
- Sunny Hostin: “That is so generous.”
A New Kind of Fangs
While Broadway’s green witch is behind her, Erivo’s next theatrical leap is just as bold. In London’s West End she’ll tackle 23 characters solo in a new Dracula production.
> “I’m f—— petrified. I really am. I’m very scared,” she told co-star Jonathan Bailey for Wonderland magazine. “But I’m also… really excited about it as well.”
Other upcoming projects:
- Prima Facie (stage-to-screen adaptation)
- Children of Blood and Bone (Jan. 15, 2027 theatrical release)
Key Takeaways
- Erivo wants the Broadway spotlight to shine on new Elphabas
- Current Elphaba Lencia Kebede is Broadway’s first Black actress in the role full-time
- The actor’s 2015 Broadway debut in The Color Purple earned her a 2016 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical
- Her next challenge: commanding the stage alone as two-dozen characters in Dracula
By hanging up the hat, Erivo passes the wand-and ensures the land of Oz keeps spinning with fresh talent.
