The Long-Awaited Movie Adaptation of 'In the Heights' Has Just Dropped Its Vibrant New Trailer
Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony-winning musical is finally making its way to the big screen.
Over the past seven years, Hamilton has become a cultural phenomenon — and, thanks to its fame and acclaim, so has the hip hop musical's creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. But that's not the only stellar stage show to the multi-talented composer, actor, singer and playwright's name. Before he took on US history (and before he helped bring Bring It On to the theatre, too), Miranda turned life in Manhattan's Washington Heights into four-time Tony-winner In the Heights.
While every Hamilton fan dreams of the day that it gets adapted for the big screen, his debut musical is actually making the leap to cinemas first — this year, finally, after its original 2020 release date was postponed due to the pandemic. Yes, the recorded version of Hamilton hit streaming last year, and was as phenomenal as everyone hoped, but In the Heights hasn't just filmed a stage performance.
When it releases Down Under on June 24, In the Heights will do so with a stacked cast, with Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M Chu behind the lens, and via a movie primarily shot on location in its titular spot. Quiara Alegría Hudes, who wrote the text for the stage version, has also written the feature's screenplay. And Lin-Manuel Miranda is involved, naturally, producing the movie, overseeing the music and popping up on-screen as well.
On Broadway from 2008–11, Miranda played the lead role of bodega owner Usnavi de la Vega. In the film, that honour goes to Anthony Ramos — an alumnus of the original production of Hamilton who has also featured in Patti Cake$, A Star Is Born and Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Usnavi works hard, saves everything he earns and strives for a better life. He also sits at the centre of a vibrant community just beyond the 181st Street subway stop, with In the Heights charting the lives, loves and dreams of the Latinx neighbourhood through colourful, energetic and — as seen in both 2019's first trailer for the movie and the latest, just-dropped sneak peek — exquisitely choreographed song and dance numbers.
Joining Ramos and Miranda (who plays Piragua Guy, the owner of a shaved ice dessert stand) are Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton), singer Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera (Vida), Dascha Polanco (Orange is the New Black), Marc Anthony and Jimmy Smits — plus original In the Heights stage star Olga Merediz, Rent's Daphne Rubin-Vega and Matilda the Musical's Gregory Diaz IV. Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Stephanie Beatriz also features, after Miranda made an appearance on the hit sitcom in 2019.
Check out the latest trailer below:
In the Heights will release in cinemas Down Under on June 24.
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