As a long-timer Evil Fan, Ariana Grande knew she had some work to do when she was cast as Galinda Upland.

While discussing the audition process for Jon M. Chu's feature film adaptation of the Broadway musical, the two-time Grammy winner discussed the pressure of getting the character right and the “challenge” of breaking out of her pop star box.

“That’s something I loved about auditioning EvilGrande explained on Sentimental men Podcast. “It has to be earned. Anything on this scale, being a part of anything, isn't just a given because you know something specific. So it’s fun to take on the challenge of redefining people’s perceptions and earning your way back into the other rooms.”

Grande has been performing musical theater since she was eight years old and has long been a fan of the Tony Award-winning musical. She knew fans would have high expectations of her in this role.

“I felt a little bit of initial nervousness or kind of a preconceived notion about what I could and couldn't deliver, or why I would be wrong or whatever,” she explained, noting that fans didn't see the training she underwent before the audition.

“I probably would have said the same thing on 'Side to Side,'” Grande said of her critics. “I probably would have said, 'Why the hell?' Kill me. I've waited 20 years for this. Kill me.' I would have said that – as an outside fan who probably only knows “7 Rings” – I would have said, “Well, that's bullshit…” So, you know, I get it.”

Based on the hit Broadway musical, Evil follows Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Grande) as they first meet at Shiz University and their life-changing encounter with the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum).

Chu was hired to direct the Universal adaptation back in 2021. The first Evil The part starts on November 22nd, 2024, the second follows on November 21st, 2025.