He really doesn’t need it. Last year, the big-screen adaptation of the iconic Broadway musical depicting life in a pre-Dorothy Oz defied expectations (not to mention gravity) by becoming a worldwide blockbuster that earned 10 Oscar nominations.
In the much-anticipated, second-half Wicked: For Good (which opens in theaters Nov. 21), Slates reprises his role as Boq — a cheerful munchkin in Oz harboring an unrequited crush on the ever-popular Glinda (Ariana Grande-Butera). Alas, the ostracized Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) must cast a spell that renders him into the heartless Tin Man.
Offscreen, Slater’s heart is significantly fuller: He’s been dating Grande for more than two years after meeting on the set in 2022. And come 2026, Slater — Tony-nominated in 2018 for playing the titular role in the SpongeBob SquarePants musical — will star as legendary French mime Marcel Marceau in the off-Broadway new play Marcel on the Train. (He co-wrote it, too.)
Parade: So how does it feel to be almost done with the Wicked press tour and the fancy premieres?
For people who haven’t seen the show or just forgot, it may be a surprise that you turn into such an iconic character!
Related: All About ‘Wicked: For Good’
Yes, and it was very metal-like! That's my face moving. If I lifted an eyebrow, the eyebrow lifted. If I twitched my cheek, my cheek twitched. So I was really acting through the prosthetics, and they didn't have to change it in post-production at all. I think a big question is how much CGI is there, and the answer is just the Tin Man joints.
When it started, it was about five hours a day. By the end, it was under three. [Makeup prosthetic designers] Mark [Coulier] and Stephen [Murphy] and Frances Hannon got really good at it.
That was constantly ringing in my head. I kept thinking, “Thank God we've had nearly 100 years of testing on these paints to make sure that I'm not going to develop a reaction!”
Boq is fairly isolated in Wicked: For Good. Did you get to be on set for any of the big production numbers?
I also talked to Jon a lot for his plan for [Glinda’s new song] “The Girl in the Bubble.” The camera moves through all these mirrors to see what’s in the reflected world and what’s reflected in the real world. It was a beautiful metaphor done seamlessly. And the work that Ariana was doing in it, and the collaboration with her performance and, like, just her singing and the cinematic storytelling . . . I was very excited to see it.
She's incredible. I mean, I could take up our entire interview plugging performances that I think are mind blowing. Cynthia’s “No Good Deed” is everything that you want it to be, and more. And remember that it was live singing 90 percent of the time on the set. Jon did an amazing job at finding people who could sing the hell out of those songs at the highest level.
Oh, maybe. I auditioned for the role like 10 years ago on Broadway, and I didn't get it. But now I have a take on it. But I love Broadway, and I love doing theater. Everybody wants to be in Wicked. What a great show.
Let’s hear a little about the Marcel Marceau play. Are you playing a mime?
Will you have time to go to the Oscars again?
What stands out about that night?
Related: 'Wicked' Fans React to Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's 2025 Oscars Performance: 'Mesmerizing'
The thing is, promoting a movie that you love and are proud of can be a sappy experience. I love all of the people that I got to work with, and we get to travel the world talking about it. It's like, it's heartwarming, and it's beautiful. So it's hard to pick out one thing, because it's been a heartwarming month.
(Smiles) Oh, I've gotten a couple of nice thoughtful little gifts for people!
I’ll say this: My best friend, Danny Skinner — who played Patrick Star with me on Broadway when we did the SpongeBob musical — came with me to London to celebrate the London premiere of Wicked. We got to spend the day hyping each other up and having a great time and celebrating this thing. It was heartwarming for both of us.
First of all, the score is awesome. It’s epic and emotional. But at the end of the day, I think it's the story of two women and this friendship, and the lengths that we go to in order to become our truest selves with a friend. The world is so big and scary, and ultimately, the thing that keeps us grounded are the people in our lives and the people we love. I think that’s the heart of the story, and that's what's makes it so enduring.
Next: Is There a Post-Credits Scene at the End of ‘Wicked: For Good’?
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