Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal of Elphaba in Wicked is proving to be a powerful moment in musical cinema, particularly with her performance of the iconic number “Defying Gravity.” In Jon M. Chu’s screen adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical, Erivo takes on the show-stopping anthem, which is a pivotal moment for Elphaba as she embraces her uniqueness and defies societal expectations.
Filming this intense sequence presented a number of challenges for Erivo, including the physically demanding act of singing while suspended in the air, a feat that required both vocal precision and physical endurance. Reflecting on the experience, Erivo explained the technical aspects of singing live while floating, using muscle tension throughout her body to simulate the effect of gravity. She described how she had to engage her entire body—back, legs, chest, neck, and ribs—to convey the feeling of weightlessness while maintaining the emotion of the song. This was no small feat, especially given the strong artificial winds blowing around her during the shoot.
Cinematographer Alice Brooks praised Erivo’s incredible effort, noting that she was “doing every single one of those stunts and singing live.” Erivo’s rendition of the song, though rooted in the Broadway original, also featured a personal touch: the final note. Erivo worked closely with Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz and arranger Stephen Oremus to find her own unique interpretation of the note, and after multiple attempts, she found the perfect one, which made it into the final take.
Jon M. Chu, the director, shared a particularly moving moment from the set. When Erivo performed the song live, the entire crew was visibly moved, with many members in tears. He recounted, “After she’s done… I’m looking around, and all the crew are crying, and I’m like, ‘I hope we pressed record.’” Her ability to sing live, in such a challenging scene, left the crew in awe of her talent and dedication.
This performance, which stays true to the emotional core of the song while allowing Erivo to make it her own, is sure to be one of the standout moments of Wicked. Fans can look forward to more musical magic when Wicked: Part Two (Wicked: For Good) hits theaters on November 21, 2025.