Salma Hayek recently shared heartfelt congratulations with the team behind the movie adaptation of Wicked, more than a decade after her own plans to adapt the musical into a miniseries fell through. In an Instagram post, Hayek celebrated the film’s record-breaking box office success with a series of photos and a video from the movie’s premiere.
The first slide featured Hayek on the red carpet alongside Wicked star Ariana Grande, who dazzled in a white gown, a sleek bun, and sparkling necklaces. Hayek herself stunned in a red gown, keeping her look understated with nude makeup and straight hair cascading over her shoulders.
In the second slide, Hayek shared a video of Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo running toward her for an embrace. Erivo channeled her character Elphaba with a green-and-grey embellished dress, dramatic black nails, and statement earrings. Hayek captioned the post: “Congratulations @arianagrande, @cynthiaerivo, and the entire Wicked team for the magic you’ve brought to our screens! 🌟✨🎶”
The 58-year-old actress and filmmaker also reflected on her earlier involvement with Wicked. In 2011, Hayek partnered with Jose Tamez to produce an eight-hour miniseries of the musical, based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel of the same name, a reimagining of The Wizard of Oz.
ABC had announced the project, which aimed to explore the complex friendship between Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (the Good Witch). However, Hayek’s miniseries never came to fruition, and the Wicked movie adaptation continued its own journey.
Over the years, actresses like Lea Michele and Amy Adams were rumored for the roles of Glinda and Elphaba before Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were cast in the highly anticipated film. It’s worth noting that Maguire had previously sold the rights for a non-musical adaptation of his novel in 2009, but that project also stalled.
Hayek’s post highlights her enduring admiration for the Wicked story, even as her vision for the musical adaptation was left unrealized. Her support for the movie adaptation underscores her passion for storytelling and the magic of the musical that has captivated audiences worldwide.