Millions of fans around the globe got to know Lin-Manuel Miranda through his groundbreaking musical “Hamilton.” Miranda has discussed bringing a filmed version of the musical into movie theaters in the past and even went so far as to make recordings with the original cast to put the film together. Now that film is being prepared for distribution and the Walt Disney Studios has secured the rights.
Lin-Manuel Miranda has been doing a lot of work with The Walt Disney Company lately. From playing Jack the Lamplighter in “Mary Poppins Returns,” to providing music in movies like “Moana,” to even a cameo in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” Miranda and Disney have developed a lot of ties. Not sure if that explains why Disney secured these rights, but I’m sure it didn’t hurt.
This not a reimagining, but rather it will use footage filmed during performances in 2016 with most of the original cast, including Miranda himself in the title role. Included in the production are: Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr (Hamilton’s rival), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton’s sister-in-law Angelica Schuyler), and Daveed Diggs (who plays both Hamilton’s French ally Marquis de Lafayette and American rival Thomas Jefferson). Also in the cast were: Anthony Ramos ( Hamilton’s best friend John Laurens and son PhilipcJasmine Cephas Jones (as Peggy Schuyler and Hamilton’s mistress Maria Reynolds, Christopher Jackson (George Washington), Philippa Soo (Hamilton’s wife, Eliza Schuyler), Okieriete Onaodowan (spy Hercules Mulligan and Jefferson ally James Madison), and Jonathan Groff who returned just for these filmed performances to play King George III.
“Hamilton” will dance into theaters Oct 15, 2021. After that it will reportedly live on Disney+.