Hold up! Lady Gaga almost starred in Wicked?! Here's what we know

From "Paparazzi" to "Popular!"

The whole world is holding its breath in excitement over the impending release of Wicked, starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, but now, we've learned about a very different version of the film we almost got!

According to Page Six, years ago, English director Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Crown) was attached to direct the film, and he had some radically different casting ideas than what we got in real life.

These new reports say that Daldry had Lady Gaga (yes, MOTHER MONSTER herself) in mind to play the lead character of Elphaba (played by Erivo in the actual film), and even met with her about the role.

"They had meetings, the two of them, about the character and who she would be," Page Six's source said. "[Gaga] was essentially cast in his version, and then it fell through."

Singer Shawn Mendes was also rumored to be in Daldry's cast as the handsome and charming Fiyero, a role that eventually went to out actor Jonathan Bailey.

Daldry was attached as the director of Wicked film adaptation in 2016 but left the production in 2020 when, according to Deadline, the studio wanted him to move more quickly on the film, and he didn't want to. Additionally, Daldry was unable to shoot the film in London, where he preferred to shoot.

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In 2021, Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) came on board as director, and soon, Grande and Erivo were attached to star.

While Gaga might've been great in Wicked, there's no doubt that Erivo is a perfect Elphaba who elevates both the film and the role.

Wicked hits theaters on November 22.