Ethan Slater's journey to landing a role in the big screen adaptation of 'Wicked' had a touch of magic to it. Slater, who plays the character Boq, found himself in a serendipitous situation when he was asked to audition for the role while portraying actor Christopher Fitzgerald's identical twin in a table read for a musical. Fitzgerald originated the role of Boq on Broadway, and Slater, not wanting to jinx his chances, kept his audition a secret from Fitzgerald.
After securing the role, Slater aimed to pay homage to Fitzgerald's portrayal of Boq while infusing his own interpretation. Fitzgerald praised Slater's performance, commending his blend of soulfulness and humor in the role.
'Wicked' is a prequel to 'The Wizard of Oz' and features Ariana Grande as Glinda, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero. The film, directed by Jon M. Chu, felt intimate to Slater despite its grand scale, with the cast bonding over their shared love for theater.
The actors, all with musical theater backgrounds, sang live on set to enhance their performances. Slater emphasized the seamless transition between acting and singing without the need for post-production dubbing.
'Wicked' will be released in two parts, with the second installment set for November 2025. Slater acknowledged the decision to split the film as controversial but believes viewers will be captivated by the characters and storyline.
Off-screen, Slater and Grande, who portrays Glinda, are a couple. Slater praised Grande's talent and versatility, particularly highlighting her exceptional singing and acting skills.
Aside from 'Wicked,' Slater stars in 'Lost on a Mountain in Maine' and is working on a play centered on French mime Marcel Marceau. While cautious about celebrating prematurely, Slater is optimistic about the play's future.
