Anna Kendrick Front Runner For Coveted ‘Wicked’ Role Over Idina Menzel

Let it go Idina, Anna may be the new Elphaba! Between 'Pitch Perfect' and 'Into the Woods' Anna has proven herself as a double threat of both singer and actress, and is now in competition with the Broadway star for the acclaimed role in the upcoming 'Wicked' film. Whoa -- could Anna Kendrick really beat out Broadway's original Elphaba, Idina Menzel, for the role in Universal's upcoming film Wicked? There's some fierce competition going on, as HollywoodLife.com learned EXCLUSIVELY that "anyone that is anyone will be offered an audition", but it looks like Anna may have the winning shot!

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Anna Kendrick’s ‘Wicked’ Role? — Actress Is Front Runner Over Idina Menzel

There’s no doubt about it that Anna, 29, knows how to carry a tune, and we would love to see her belt “Defying Gravity” on the big screen. Our dreams might come true!

“With Pitch Perfect 2 coming out for Universal and Wicked being Universal property, if it’s the monster hit that they anticipate, then Anna will be offered a role in Wicked 100,000 percent,” a source tells HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY.

It seems like the obvious choice for the role would be Idina, 43, since she played the original Elphaba in the Wizard of Oz-based musical on Broadway in 2003.

Though it is of course, “super early on in any casting decisions,” it is already known to be a huge production. “Anyone that is anyone will be offered an audition. The studio anticipates it to be a major box office hit and will be nurturing it until it’s completed to make it as big as it can become,” our source continues.

Along with Anna and Idina, Anne Hathaway‘s name has been thrown into the mix as well, however, we know it’s still too early to get excited about anything. But that doesn’t mean we can’t imagine Anna or Anne singing “I’m Not That Girl” or “No Good Deed.” It seems like Anna could very well be the next Elphaba!

‘Into The Woods’ Featurette: Anna Kendrick Sings

If you need any proof whatsoever of Anna’s amazing voice, check out her featurette from Into the Woods with co-star Emily Blunt of the classic song “I Wish”. In the Tony Award-winning musical adaptation, Anna plays Cinderella.

What do YOU think, HollywoodLifers? Would you like to see Anna star in Wicked, or do you have another leading lady in mind? Sound off below!

— Julianne Ishler, Reporting by Russ Weakland

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