Ivinghoe sees construction ahead of Wicked filming, as director shares first look at Ariana Grande’s ‘Glinda’

Could Ariana Grande be spending the summer in Buckinghamshire? That’s the question on the lips of locals in Ivinghoe, as the Wicked fans today aren’t just spoiled with a teaser from the film’s director but of set construction taking place in the Buckinghamshire area, as the BBC provided aerial footage of what appears to be Munchkinland. 

The film, set for release in two parts in 2024, has already begun filming in the UK in December at the newly built Sky Studios in Elstree, Hertfordshire, but new video has emerged showing a enormous construction job occurring in Ivinghoe, with the colourful footage indicating that the set could be where Dorothy first wakes up in Oz, or potentially a new take on the Emerald City? 

Ivinghoe is no stranger to productions though - the location has been used in television dramas Midsomer Murders, the Sir Sean Connery and Richard Gere film “First Knight” and the 1985 entry into the Dirty Dozen franchise, “The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission'' used Ivinghoe as a filming location for some scenes. But, with all respect to Sir Sean and Richard, nothing to the pop culture scale that has been Wicked since its debut on Broadway and transition to the West End. 

If that wasn’t enough for fans of Glinda, then an Instagram reveal of some of the characters from the film should more than satisfy the appetites of fans. Taking to his social media account, director John M Chu posted two pictures of both Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Glinda and Elphaba respectively - with Grande rocking that dopamine dressing in a pink outfit in the images shared. 

Wicked is being produced by Universal, and alongside Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo will also feature Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum and current Saturday Night Live favourite Bowen Yang.

Wicked: Part One was originally scheduled to be released theatrically on December 25, 2024, by Universal Pictures, but on March 14, 2023, it was announced that it will be moved up and is now set to be released on November 27, 2024 to avoid competition with Avatar 3 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.