Just when we were starting to emotionally stabilize, Jonathan Bailey is back with news that could absolutely derail the rest of the decade. According to industry buzz first reported by Deadline, Bailey is in early talks to reunite with Ariana Grande — this time not for a blockbuster musical movie, but for a proper, capital-T Theatre moment in London.
The project in question? Sunday in the Park With George. Yes, the Sondheim one. Yes, the “feel everything all at once and question your life choices” one. And yes, theatre gays are already seated, snacks in hand, pretending they’re emotionally fine.
RELATED: Check Out Jonathan Bailey’s Most Iconic Roles!
Wicked Was Just the Warm-Up
Bailey and Grande already proved they work dangerously well together in Wicked and its follow-up Wicked: For Good. What started as big-budget fantasy fun quickly turned into “oh wait, these two actually get each other as performers.”
That chemistry is reportedly carrying over into early read-throughs for Sunday in the Park With George, where insiders say both actors are already thriving in the material. Which makes sense — Bailey has the emotional precision, Grande has the vocal control, and Sondheim famously rewards people who show up prepared.
Bailey + Sondheim = Theatre Kid Catnip
Let’s be real: Bailey returning to Sondheim feels correct. Before the world discovered him via streaming algorithms, he was already a theatre favorite. His turn as Jamie in Marianne Elliott’s gender-flipped revival of Company wasn’t just good — it was career-altering.
one of my greatest flexes is that i saw this performance of Jonny Bailey in the 2018 west end revival of company with my own eyes ……. pic.twitter.com/8OGL5e89cd
— kyleigh (@kykysimsim) November 6, 2025
That production made people sit up and say, “Oh, he’s serious.” A reunion with Marianne Elliott, a multiple Tony and Olivier Award winner, feels less like a rumor and more like theatre destiny gently tapping us on the shoulder.
Elliott knows how to modernize classic musicals without stripping them of their emotional core — which is exactly what Sunday in the Park With George needs to land with today’s audiences.
What This Show Is Actually About (No Homework Required)
For anyone who skipped theatre history class, Sunday in the Park With George is inspired by Georges Seurat’s iconic pointillist painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. The musical imagines the lives of the people in that painting, focusing on George, the artist, and Dot, his lover and muse.
It’s about creativity, obsession, connection, legacy — and the quiet loneliness that can come with making art. Which, honestly, sounds like catnip for Bailey’s brand of emotionally intelligent performance.
Ariana Grande, Theatre Kid (Re-Emerging)
Grande has never been shy about her Broadway roots, and lately she’s been hinting that a return to the stage is very much on her mind. Taking on Sondheim isn’t a casual decision — it’s a “prove something to myself” move.
Pairing that with Bailey, who thrives on emotional nuance, makes this rumored reunion feel intentional rather than flashy. Less stunt casting, more “we actually want to do this right.”
Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey for NYT cooking.
— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) November 25, 2025
Where and When (Potentially)
If all the moving parts come together, the revival could land at London’s Barbican Theatre in 2027, possibly taking over the venue’s coveted summer musical slot. Nothing is officially confirmed yet — everyone involved is reportedly being cautiously optimistic — but that hasn’t stopped theatre fans from mentally rearranging their calendars.
Bailey’s Era Is Still Very Much Happening
Whether or not this specific production makes it to the stage, one thing is clear: Bailey is in his “choose interesting projects” era. He’s not rushing. He’s not coasting. He’s doing work that feels thoughtful, challenging, and — crucially — hot in a very emotionally available way.
And if that path leads back to Sondheim, a London stage, and a reunion with Ariana Grande? Well. Theatre gays everywhere will simply have to survive.
Barely.
REFERENCE: Deadline