Lady Gaga and Shawn Mendes nearly headlined 'The Wicked Movie' according to reports

Lady Gaga and Shawn Mendes nearly starred in 'The Wicked Movie,' revealed a new report on early casting decisions.

According to a recent Page Six report, the upcoming film adaptation of The Wicked Movie nearly featured Lady Gaga as Elphaba and Shawn Mendes as Fiyero. Early in the project, director Stephen Daldry, known for The Crown, was attached and had envisioned Gaga in the central role. Sources confirmed that “Gaga was essentially cast in his version, and then it fell through.” Multiple meetings reportedly took place to refine their approach to the character.

Shawn Mendes, the Canadian pop star and actor, was also under consideration for the role of Fiyero, Elphaba’s love interest. However, in 2020, Daldry left the project due to scheduling conflicts, and the film's direction shifted when Jon M. Chu, acclaimed for Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights, took over. Chu ultimately cast Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Glinda, and Jonathan Bailey of Bridgerton fame as Fiyero.

Lady Gaga, who received widespread praise for her performance in A Star Is Born, recently faced a box office disappointment with 2024's Joker: Folie à Deux. Despite the setback, the pop icon has returned to music, releasing her new single “Disease” as part of her upcoming seventh album. She is also rumored to appear in the next season of Netflix’s Wednesday.

As the reimagined Wicked Movie approaches its theatrical release this weekend, the early casting discussions highlight how significantly the film could have differed in tone and star power.