Jonathan Bailey has pulled out of the West End revival of “Sunday in the Park with George,” following his “Wicked” co-star Ariana Grande’s exit from the same production.
Bailey, 38, announced the decision Tuesday on his Instagram Stories, posting a message of solidarity with Grande, 33. “Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering,” the “Bridgerton” star wrote. “After much consideration, I have decided to also step back from ‘Sunday in the Park with George.'”
The pair had been slated to headline the Stephen Sondheim musical at London’s Barbican Centre in summer 2027. Bailey was cast as painter Georges Seurat, with Grande set to play his mistress, Dot. Their collaboration would have reunited them after their turns as Glinda and Prince Fiyero in Jon M. Chu’s 2024 blockbuster “Wicked” and its upcoming sequel, “Wicked: For Good.”
“This brilliant, introspective musical has been a real passion project for me, and I feel incredibly lucky to have shared in its journey with this team,” Bailey continued on Instagram Stories. “Among many things, the story explores the deep connection between George and Dot, a beautiful, devoted pairing, and I so look forward to seeing what the team, and the two actors who will now take on these roles, will create with it.”
Grande’s departure came first, announced in August as she mapped out a retreat from public life following the conclusion of her “Eternal Sunshine” tour. Her spokesperson outlined the plan in a statement at the time. “She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny,” the rep said. “This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”
The “7 Rings” singer’s final tour date is scheduled for Tuesday in London. After that, an insider said she intends to spend her downtime with family, friends and boyfriend Ricky Alvarez, a dancer she previously dated from 2015 to 2016 and rekindled with over the summer following her split from “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater. “Between touring, rehearsals and her other work commitments, she and Ricky haven’t been able to spend as much time together as she would have liked over the past few months, so she’s looking forward to having more uninterrupted time with him,” the source said.
Bailey made clear his departure carries no ill will toward the production. “I will be cheering them on as they continue this journey,” he wrote in his Instagram Stories message, expressing well-wishes to the replacement actors and creative team.
The double exit leaves the high-profile West End revival searching for two new leads. The casting shakeup also marks another professional setback for Grande, who additionally will not appear as planned in Season 13 of “American Horror Story,” a role that has now been addressed by series creator Ryan Murphy.
For Bailey, the freed schedule aligns with an already busy film slate. According to his IMDb page, he is currently shooting an untitled John Lee Hancock-directed project and is in pre-production on “Pumping Black,” a psychological sports thriller co-starring Natalie Portman.
Grande’s break from the spotlight follows a stretch of intense public attention, including body-shaming comments that surfaced after the July release of her “Petal” music video. Her spokesperson did not specify the exact nature of the “ongoing public scrutiny” referenced in the August statement.
The “Eternal Sunshine” tour’s London finale on Tuesday will now serve as Grande’s last scheduled public performance before her hiatus, capping a run she has described as deeply meaningful despite the pressures surrounding it.
Bailey and Grande first developed their on-screen chemistry in the “Wicked” franchise, where their characters’ romantic arc provided a central thread alongside Elphaba’s journey. Their planned reunion in “Sunday in the Park with George” had been positioned as a natural next step for both performers, bridging blockbuster musical film work with the prestige of a major London stage production.
Grande is set to take the stage at London’s O2 Arena for her final “Eternal Sunshine” tour date on Tuesday.