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Wicked and Gladiator II have been two of the most highly-anticipated movies of 2024. Both films finally hit theaters on Friday, Nov. 22. Since it’s been a big weekend for moviegoers, fans have been comparing it to the time Barbie and Oppenheimer premiered on the same day, which was dubbed Barbenheimer. Due to the similarities, they’ve even offered a few nicknames for the Wicked and Gladiator II double feature, including one that’s very NSFW. However, Ariana Grande was quick to shoot that idea down before it could officially take off.
The ‘Wicked’ and ‘Gladiator II’ Double Screening Gets The Barbenheimer Treatment
Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande discussed the most popular name suggestions in a new interview with Entertainment Tonight. When asked if they approved of Glicked, the pair agreed the term was a good nickname for the Wicked and Gladiator II double release. “We are okay with that. It’s Glicked day. We like Glicked day,” they said in excitement.
Grande said she liked Glicked a lot better than some of the other options out there. After the interviewer had brought up the idea of using Wickenator instead, the actresses instantly disapproved. “No, no, no, Glicked is good,” Erivo said.
While Wickenator may not have been the best suggestion, it wasn’t the worst. The “Yes, And?” singer revealed she had heard some fans coining the double feature Glad*cked. “Now what the hell is that?” she said. “Where did that come from? Who put the d*ck in it? I don’t understand.”
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande couldn’t help but laugh at the idea. While it was funny, they preferred to keep things “PG.” So, they eventually came to the agreement that Glicked was the best (and most family-friendly) option. “Glicked is what it is and that is what we should be doing,” Erivo said. “That’s perfect,” Grande chimed in.
Watch the pair’s interview below.
Glicked It Is!
The Wicked and Gladiator II double feature has certainly been a big moment for pop culture fans. The Jon M. Chu film marks the first time The Wizard of Oz spinoff has gotten a big-screen adaptation since the original musical was released in 2003. Meanwhile, the action blockbuster by Ridley Scott has also been two decades in the making. The original Gladiator premiered in 2000, so expectations for the sequel have been high, to say the least.
Fans can catch the Glicked double screening in theaters now.
