Wicked Chemistry! Behind the Scenes of Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande’s Dynamic Performances Together
Moviegoers are finally getting a peek at Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s relationship on the big screen.
Grande, 31, and Slater, 32, met during production on the new movie musical Wicked. The “thank u, next” singer stars as Glinda, while Slater helps round out the cast as the Shiz University student Boq Woodsman.
In Wicked: Part One, Glinda and Boq interact as soon as both characters arrive to begin their studies at Shiz. Boq, from Munchkinland, grows enamored with Glinda from the first moment they meet, but she places her attention on wooing the prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey).
As Boq, Fiyero, Glinda, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and her sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode) get to know each other and Boq tries to ask Glinda to a dance, Glinda instead convinces Boq to court Nessarose, serving as a matchmaker of sorts. The evening out soon takes a turn as Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship takes root.
PEOPLE confirmed Slater and Grande were dating in July 2023, some six months after production on Wicked first began. This came after Grande separated from her ex-husband, Dalton Gomez, and Slater separated from his ex-wife, Lilly Jay.
Grande shared a photo of Slater on her Instagram for the first time Nov. 3 following Wicked‘s premiere in Australia, and the two have spoken highly of each other as they have promoted the movie.
“He’s always adorable, and he’s so amazing in this film, he’s such an amazing person,” Grande told Entertainment Tonight of Slater at the movie’s Los Angeles premiere Nov. 9. “I’m so happy people are getting to know him. My heart is very happy.”
Slater, meanwhile, told the outlet that he was “so proud of” Grande’s work as Glinda in the film. “She’s incredible in this movie, and then to be able to share in the celebration of it, I’m just grateful,” he said.
Wicked: Part One is in theaters now, with Part Two set for release Nov. 21, 2025.