Wicked film nearly featured Lady Gaga and Shawn Mendes in lead roles

The film "Wicked," featuring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, was nearly directed by Stephen Daldry, who wanted Lady Gaga for the role of Elphaba. They reportedly had multiple meetings about the character. Daldry also considered Shawn Mendes for the role of Fiyero, which is now played by Jonathan Bailey. The casting plans changed as Daldry's involvement with the project ended. "Wicked" has been in development for over a decade, with its current cast and direction differing significantly from earlier plans.