Ethan Slater: 5 Must-Know Facts About Ariana Grande’s New ‘Wicked’ Co-Star

Ethan Slater’s star has never burned brighter. Fresh off a show-stealing turn as Boq in the two-part Wicked movie slated for November, the 32-year-old Broadway breakout made headlines after slipping into the 97th Academy Awards hand-in-hand with Ariana Grande, confirming weeks of speculation that their romance is still very much on — and stronger than ever. Public displays of affection inside the Dolby Theatre turned the couple into instant trending fodder. Cameras caught Grande whispering encouragement as Slater’s name flashed during a Wicked teaser, a moment that sent “Ethan Slater Oscars” rocketing up real-time searches. Only two weeks earlier, lip-readers at the SAG Awards clocked Slater telling Grande “I’ve got you” while guiding her past photographers, fueling admiration for his “protective boyfriend” reputation. Relationship timeline • July 2023 – Slater files for divorce from high-school sweetheart Lilly Jay as Wicked filming intensifies. • January 2025 – Sources confirm the actor moved into Grande’s Hidden Hills compound, prompting cohabitation rumors. • March 2025 – Couple make first major joint appearance at the Oscars after a low-key SAG trial run. Why this matters for Wicked Universal’s film adaptation has kept storylines under wraps, but Slater recently revealed that castmate Jeff Goldblum coached him on “starving the hype, feeding the work,” advice he calls “career-saving”. With Grande playing Glinda opposite Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba, the real-life romance doubles as free marketing: Google queries for “Ethan Slater Boq” spiked 280 % the morning after the Oscars. What’s next • Wicked: Part I trailer expected with Universal’s fall tent-pole; insiders say Slater’s Boq gets “expanded screen time” compared to the stage show. • Broadway return: Producers of a SpongeBob SquarePants revival are courting Slater for a limited-engagement encore once Wicked press wraps. • Music crossover: Sources close to Republic Records confirm early talks for a pop-theatre fusion EP featuring Grande harmonies. Bottom line From Tony-nominated sea sponge to Hollywood’s most-searched leading man, Ethan Slater is riding a perfect PR storm of blockbuster buzz and celebrity romance. If Wicked meets projections, expect Slater’s name to dominate both Broadway marquees and Google’s hot-100 list well into 2026.