In a plot twist nobody saw coming, Jonathan Bailey has officially dropped out of the West End revival of Sunday in the Park With George, just weeks after his Wicked co-star Ariana Grande announced she was stepping away from the same production.
The show was supposed to be the ultimate reunion moment for two of Hollywood’s biggest names, and now it’s without either of its original leads.
(Wicked: For Good via Universal Pictures)
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What Happened
Jonathan announced his exit in a statement shared to an Instagram Story on Sep. 1. In it, he made it clear the decision wasn’t about the material or the team, but about standing by his friend.
“Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering,” Jonathan wrote, before adding that he had decided to also step back from the project. He called the musical “a real passion project” and said he felt lucky to have been part of its journey, even as he’s stepping away before it reaches the stage.
Jonathan and Ariana were set to play George and Dot, the central couple in the Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical inspired by Georges Seurat’s famous pointillist painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.”T
he revival, produced by Empire Street Productions at London’s Barbican Centre, was originally announced back in January as a chance for the two Wicked stars to share a stage for the first time, with previews expected in summer 2027.
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Why Ariana Stepped Back First
Ariana’s exit came about a month earlier, as part of a broader decision to take “a step back from visibility” once her Eternal Sunshine tour wrapped in London.
Her departure followed weeks of online discourse and concern from fans and peers about her health, which intensified after the release of her “Petal” music video. At a Chicago tour stop, Ariana addressed the decision directly, telling fans it wasn’t sudden. She said it was something she’d quietly planned for a while, and that multiple things can be true about her choice at once.
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What’s Next for the Production
Even with both original stars gone, the show isn’t dead. Empire Street Productions confirmed that work on Sunday in the Park With George is continuing, with casting discussions already underway to build a new company around the production while keeping Sondheim and Lapine’s original vision intact.
Jonathan said in his statement that he’s looking forward to seeing what new actors bring to George and Dot, and that he’ll be cheering on the rest of the company from the sidelines.
It’s a bittersweet turn for a project that fans had been excited about since January, but Jonathan and Ariana’s friendship clearly came first. Whoever ends up stepping into George and Dot’s shoes will have big expectations to live up to, but the real story here is two A-list friends choosing loyalty over a highly anticipated reunion.
Expect casting news for the revival to be one of the more closely watched theater stories heading into 2027.
For more on Jonathan Bailey, click HERE to discover the 10 shows and films to watch to get to know the star.
