6 days ago5 min read

Cynthia Erivo Earned Less Than Ariana Grande for New Wicked Movie: Rumors Debunked!

by Venus Sanders

As much as I’d love to be writing an article sharing an in-depth review of the film Wicked, unfortunately, we were not invited to the premiere. So instead, here we are discussing what many fans want to know more about—the wage gap between the leading stars has been debunked, as that rumor is false.

Cynthia Erivo Earned Less Than Ariana Grande for New Wicked Movie: Is Race a Factor?

Image Credit: Dave Benett | Getty Images

In the days following the film's debut last Friday, Wicked earned an impressive $114 million at the domestic box office and $164.2 million worldwide against a $150 million budget. However, fans began to question why Ariana Grande reportedly earned $15 million for her role, while Cynthia Erivo only earned $1 million for hers (false). But sure, the average person would never complain about earning $1 million, but in Hollywood, the numbers operate on a different scale.

HERE'S THE BREAKDOWN:

Gross Salary: $1,000,000

Agent Fees (10%): $100,000
Manager Fees (15%): $150,000
Publicist Fees (5%): $50,000
Lawyer Fees (5%): $50,000
Taxes (40%): $400,000
Take-Home Pay: ~ $250,000

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This is why most actresses will shoot around 2-3 movies per year and are happy when a film wraps early so they can move on to their next project. While this is not always the case for everyone, most actresses will also look into locking down brand deals. Sydney Sweeney is the perfect example of this. She was recently spotted in a men’s commercial advertising body wash while looking very promiscuous. Despite this, she continues to remain adamant that she would like to be viewed less as a sex symbol and taken more seriously in Hollywood (a bit contradictory), but I digress.

If you’re starting to see your favorite stars doing more things outside their normal scope of work, then it’s likely that pay is, in fact, an issue for them. Not only that, but things have taken a turn since the days of cable, with more stars seeing their residual checks lowered or nonexistent in the streaming era.

Fiona Gold Books: The Snows of Khione Book 1 Music Soundtrack

Actors and actresses who were part of a major television show during the reign of cable can still expect to earn hefty residuals, even if those shows are removed from cable and placed on streaming platforms. Newer shows, however, such as Netflix’s Stranger Things or HBO’s Euphoria, will more than likely not see their stars earning residuals. These stars will then have to pack their schedules with work outside of the show, which may lead to scheduling conflicts and having less time to film longer seasons in between.

Fans have complained that television shows should contain longer seasons and have less time between seasons. But since streaming is so popular, talent appearing on these platforms are more likely to receive outside opportunities to help line their pockets. It’s not like back in the day when a successful TV show would have a breakout cast and each member would begin to see work outside of the network—brand deals, ads, etc. This meant they had more time to work on shows, which also meant more seasons, longer episodes, and less time between seasons.

As many of us know by now, Erivo is on pace to become the youngest EGOT winner in history if she can secure an Oscar win for her newest film, Wicked. Prior to this film, most of her wins came from the stage production of The Color Purple. While it is understandable that fans would question the wage gap between the two stars, it is also explainable. Erivo, on her own, cannot sell out a box office. Additionally, despite her talent and accolades, she is the lesser-known star of the two. Ariana Grande has a fanbase, a discography, and accolades of her own that surely measure up to or even surpass those of Erivo.

HOW IS A FILM’S BUDGET ALLOCATED?

In a $100 million film:

Above-the-line costs: $40 million (e.g., lead actor $20M, director $10M, script $10M)
Below-the-line costs: $30 million (crew, locations, etc.)
Post-production: $20 million (VFX, sound)
Marketing and distribution: $10 million

There are seven key factors to keep in mind when considering wage distribution among actors in a film: box office draw, star power and reputation, previous success, demand and availability, negotiation power, role significance, and profit participation. Grande has about 6/10 of these factors working in her favor, while Erivo has 2/10. We have to be realistic when debating compensation among stars, unfortunately. While low or unfair wages may not have been an issue for Erivo, the same cannot be said for others like her.

This has long been a point of contention for African American women in Hollywood, who often struggle to earn as much as their white counterparts. Ultimately, it almost always comes down to the audience. When people pay to see a film, show up at the box office, and support their own, it can directly influence pay disparities.

It always amazes me that Angelina Jolie is regarded as one of the top A-list actresses of our time, with an average salary of $49 million per year, yet many of her movies are lackluster and lack replay value. The difference, however, is that white audiences consistently show up to watch her films or tune into a movie where she’s the lead. It’s a harsh truth that many are not ready to face.

When Taraji P. Henson shed light on this issue before and during the press run for the 2023 film The Color Purple—which earned an estimated $68.8 million worldwide against a $100 million budget—she faced ridicule. Yet here we see a musical adaptation, with a majority African American cast, fail to turn a profit for the studios. This outcome makes it less unlikely that similar projects will be greenlit in the future.

Everybody wants to earn money—you, me, the studios—and no one is going to continue investing in a losing venture. Hollywood loves money more than they hate Black people. When Black audiences consistently support their own, studios will have no choice but to invest more.

Author Lisa K. Stephenson will be releasing her ninth novel, The Snows of Khione: Book 1 from the Fiona Gold Series, this Christmas, featuring Black mermaids (Modiri) and other diverse characters. This captivating fantasy novel is one she plans to pitch to major studios, but the film adaptation will only happen if the book performs well commercially. Our advice: purchase, purchase, purchase—and advocate for the film adaptation.

Website

Amazon

A project of this magnitude, showcasing African American mermaids with kinky, textured hair and an exceptional story, deserves recognition. Moreover, it has the potential to open doors for more African American creatives to star in The Snows of Khione ballet, play in the orchestra, sing on the soundtrack, and voice the characters.

In the end, Black people need to speak with their wallets, not just their fingers.

Cynthia Erivo Earned Less Than Ariana Grande for New Wicked Movie: Rumors Debunked!

HERE'S THE BREAKDOWN:

HOW IS A FILM’S BUDGET ALLOCATED?

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