Ethan Slater is dancing through life with admiration for his costars.
Indeed, the SpongeBob SquarePants stage actor arrived at Wicked: For Good’s New York City premiere Nov. 17 singing the praises of Scarlett Spears, the 8-year-old who plays the younger version of Ariana Grande’s Glinda in the film.
“You're so unbelievably good in this movie,” Ethan told Scarlett while speaking with E! News’ Justin Sylvester. “I can't wait for people to see it. It's really so sweet. How cute.”
In addition to thinking Scarlett is “the best” in the Wicked sequel, the 33-year-old highlighted his favorite part of playing Munchkin Boq and working on the movie with director Jon M. Chu, as well as Ariana, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum.
“Watching the first movie for the first time with an audience and feeling everybody experience what we had seen on set,” Ethan continued, “Jon Chu was able to take what we felt happening live on set and make it come through the screen.”
He added, “There was nothing like it to feel that sort of warmth and connection to everyone.”
And Ethan has been vocal about his costars before. Last year, he reflected on witnessing Ariana—who he began dating during the course of the films—take on the role of Glinda the Good Witch.
“She’s so funny,” he said on The Jennifer Hudson Show last November. “She’s a comedy genius. I mean, she’s amazing in this film.”
He added, “I can’t wait for people to see the takes that didn’t make it in.”
But Ethan had praise for all of the Wicked cast, too.
“Everyone’s amazing in this film,” he continued. “Cynthia and Ari bring depth to these roles. The women who have played these roles on stage are incredible. But when you’re doing a film, you’re so close.”
Read on to see how other stars took flight on the red carpet at Wicked: For Good’s New York premiere.
(E! and Universal are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Ariana Grande
In custom Schiaparelli.
Cynthia Erivo
In Balenciaga.
Jonathan Bailey
In Loro Piana.
Michelle Yeoh
In Givenchy and Mikimoto jewelry.
Jeff Goldblum
In Prada and Jacob & Co. timepiece.
Ethan Slater
In Tanner Fletcher.
Marissa Bode
Bowen Yang
In Simone Rocha and Jimmy Choo shoes.
Bronwyn James
In Marques Almeida.
Colman Domingo
In Dolce & Gabbana.
Scarlett Spears
Jon M. Chu
Nina Dobrev
In archive Narciso Rodriguez.
Megan Hilty
In Pamella Roland.
Claire Danes
Trisha Paytas
In Garo Sparo.
Constance Wu
In Cult Gaia.
Natasha Bedingfield
In Christian Siriano.
Jimmy Fallon
Auli'i Cravalho
In Mitiliane Couture.
David Burtka & Harper Burtka-Harris
Harper in Alice + Olivia.
Gayle King
Beanie Feldstein & Bonnie-Chance Roberts
Beanie in Simone Rocha.
Justine Lupe
Phillipa Soo & Andrew Chappelle
Ariana Biermann & Gia Giudice
Gia in L'idee.
Hasan Minhaj & Beena Patel
Melanie C & Chris Dingwall
Patricia Clarkson
Remi Bader
In Rodarte.