Ariana Grande Improvised Lyrics For Don’t Look Up Song

Adam McKay, the director of Don’t Look Up, reveals that the lyrics of Ariana Grande’s song in the film were completely improvised by the famed pop star. Don’t Look Up features Leonardo Dicaprio and Jennifer Lawrence in starring roles as Dr. Randall Mindy and Kate Dibiasky, respectively. They are joined by a host of well-known actors in the supporting cast including Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Rob Morgan, Cate Blanchett, Tyler Perry, Mark Rylance, Timothée Chalamet, Ron Perlman, along with world-renowned music stars Kid Cudi and Ariana Grande.

The story of Don’t Look Up revolves around two astronomers from Michigan State University who embark on an extensive media tour attempting to warn humanity of an approaching comet that will destroy the entire planet. The film plays out as a satire of the indifference of the government and the media with the impending danger of the comet looming in the background. Following a lengthy delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Don’t Look Up finally made its theatrical debut on December 10, 2021, before streaming on Netflix two weeks later on Christmas Eve. Despite mixed reviews from critics, the film has garnered multiple Golden Globe nominations including Best Picture, Best Actor for Dicaprio and Best Actress for Lawrence.

In a recent behind-the-scenes featurette video released by Netflix Film Club, Don’t Look Up director Adam McKay revealed that Ariana Grande had improvised a large portion of the lyrics of the song in the film, titled ‘Just Look Up.’ McKay mentioned that the world-renowned singer had ad-libbed some of the lines in the song within the first take itself, stating that it was “her best improv.” He also expressed that it was one of his “favorite moments” in the film. Check out his full quote below:

“Ariana Grande most certainly did improvise. In fact, her best improv was when she sang the song for the first time. She’s the one who added all that stuff about ‘We’re all going to die’ and ‘Turn off that s***box news.’ That was her riffing on the first scratch track of the melody line. And the second I heard it, I was like, ‘That’s going in the movie.’ And that might be one of my favourite moments in the movie where you have pretty much the biggest popstar in the world singing beautifully, ‘We’re all going to die.’ Every time I see it, it just has this hilarious cognitive dissonance with it. So Ariana Grande can definitely improvise.”

The film features Ariana Grande playing the role of Riley Bina, a popular music star who supports the “Just Look Up” movement started by Dr. Mindy and Kate. To show her support and help raise funds for the campaign, she performs an original track of the same name in a concert that also features Kid Cudi (who plays her boyfriend DJ Chello). With the spotlight on Grande in one of the more pivotal moments in the film, the world-renowned pop artist is more than able to deliver a powerhouse track accompanied by humorous yet touching lyrics further enhanced by the dazzling visuals on display.

Adam McKay’s more comedic ventures like Anchorman, Step Brothers, and The Other Guys show that improv comedy will always be a mainstay and core element in his work. However, Ariane Grande’s performance on Don’t Look Up marked a unique type of improvisation which not only came to the delight of the American director but also the singer’s massive fanbase and audiences worldwide. The celebrated singer of popular songs like “No Tears Left To Cry” and “Into You” was also able to hold her own with the cast of acting titans in what proved to be a scene-stealing role resulting in some of the most hilarious moments in the film. Grande’s role in Don’t Look Up could potentially kickstart Grande’s cinematic career, and few would argue that it’s undeserved.

Source: Netflix Film Club