The Spell of Wicked: How it Transformed Ethan Slater's Life

Have you ever wondered how Broadway alters the lives of its stars, both on-stage and off? Actor Ethan Slater reveals how cinematic darling Wicked became the game-changer of his life, propelling his career, igniting his love story with pop queen Ariana Grande, and fulfilling his childhood dreams.

Participating in the promotion of the Wicked Lego sets at San Diego Comic-Con, an upbeat Ethan Slater spilled the beans to People Magazine about the pivotal role Wicked had played in his journey thus far. The Tony-nominated actor, known for playing the lead in The SpongeBob Musical on Broadway in 2017, stated he fell head-over-heels for Wicked as a child, during a school trip to see the Broadway production. Fast forward to now, and he's living the dream he once clung to as a fifth-grader, starring in Wicked's film adaptation. Slater shared:

"I saw Wicked on Broadway with my fifth-grade class… that was one of the first shows that I saw. It's been a big part of my life to now be a part of Wicked; it's changed me in a big way."

Echoing his childhood experience, Slater recently took his niece to see the Broadway show for her ninth birthday. It was a full circle moment that allowed him to relive the magic of Wicked, but through a different lens, effectively relighting his passion for theater.

Aside from the major career strides, Wicked also played cupid in Slater's life. While the film adaptation was in production (available for streaming now with an Amazon Prime membership), he crossed paths with Ariana Grande - yes, the Ariana Grande! After parting ways with his high school sweetheart, he found love again with the "thank u, next" singer. The whirlwind romance has been in the limelight, but they seem to be bracing through it well ahead of the sequel's release.

With Wicked holding such a profound place in his life, Ethan Slater is quite literally living out his dreams. His performance in the movie has escalated to unanticipated heights, helping him score more roles and recognition. He's even set to star in the spinoff of the hit show The Boys, Gen V, and even made a cameo on a CBS show, Elsbeth.

It's safe to say that Wicked spelled magic on Ethan Slater, changing his life in ways he probably could only dream of. Now it's a wait-and-watch game as to how this Wizard of Oz prequel continues to shape the soaring career of Slater.

Eager to see Slater in action? Catch him in Wicked: For Good, releasing on November 21st, 2025. In anticipation, binge-watch the initial film on Amazon Prime. For movie buffs out there looking for more titles releasing this year, jump to our 2025 movie release schedule. But for now, let's stay Wicked!