Oscar-nominated actress, Cynthia Erivo, has divided fans after being cast as the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar. The London-born star, 38, who is up for Best Actress at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles next month, has wowed fans with her portrayal of Elphaba in Wicked in which she stars alongside Ariana Grande.
Following the stellar success of the flick, Cynthia has now been chosen to play Jesus in Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, which will be performed at the Hollywood Bowl in California in August. The opera follows Jesus and his disciples during the last week of his life. However, some fans are not convinced by Cynthia's casting.
Claiming it was "blasphemy" to have a woman play Jesus, one person took to X, fuming: “Absolutely blasphemy!" Another said: "You’re mocking Christ the King" while a third said: “This is just plain disrespectful.” Meanwhile, a fourth vented: “Please stop with this nonsense of doing EVERYTHING inclusive or woke! Have some respect. This is just mockery.”.
Cynthia shared the news of her casting on Instagram, telling fans she couldn't wait to get stuck into the role. She said: "Just a little busy this Summer. Can’t wait.” Her legion of loyal fans were delighted by the news, as one responded: "That’s going to be a powerhouse performance!” Another said: “Jesus Christ Superstar has pushed boundaries since inception. That’s the point.”.
Cynthia is no stranger to the opera, having starred as Mary Magdalene in an all-female version of the hit musical in 2020 and sung the popular number I Don't Know How to Love Him. Performances for Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl will begin on August 1 and run until August 3. More casting will be announced at a later date.
Cynthia is certainly defying gravity with her stratospheric career as she gets sets for the Oscars in March after the startling success of Wicked. While she missed out on a BAFTA for Best Actress, the Academy unveiled its 2025 nominees in January, with Cynthia snagging a nod in a leading role category for her portrayal of Elphaba.
According to Deadline, the star cried on a plane when she found out she was nominated and the flight attendant brought her tissues! “I’ve got happy tears,” she told the outlet. Cynthia continued: “I don’t know how to tackle this. The whole thing is madness and amazing. This is the most wonderful thing to have gone through and to experience. I’m just really pleased, it’s so cool”.
Erivo also reacted to her newfound fame, saying she is still grounded. “I’m feeling really good. I’m feeling like my feet are on the ground. I have amazing people around me. There’s not a chance I would be able to do this if I didn’t have the team that I have, and the friends that I have. I feel very, very grateful.".
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