Words by Léna Fontaine

The film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes’ Tony-winning musical In the Heights will hit the screen in june 2021, a year after its original release date. It’s june 2020 premiere had already been delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Directed by Directed by Chu and featuring a screenplay by Hudes, the adaptation was originally sets to be released in june 2020. The movie features an all-star cast including Anthony Ramos – who previously played Laurens in Miranda’s Hamilton –  in the title role of Usnavi, Melissa Barrera as Vanessa, Corey Hawkins as Benny, Leslie Grace as Nina, Olga Merediz as Abuela Claudia. Also in the cast, Stephanie Beatriz as Carla, Daphna Rubin-Vega as Daniela, Dascha Polanco as Cuca, Gregory Diaz IV as Sonny, Noah Catala as Graffiti Pete, Jimmy Smits as Kevin Rosario, and Marc Antony as Sonny’s father.

In The Heights will also feature an apperance of its creator and producer, Lin-Manuel Miranda who will play Piraguero, a Washington Heights local who sells ice from a cart.

One more year to wait until we get to see the tight-knit community on our screen. For the record, the musical ran for six months Off-Broadway before transferring to Broadway where it ran from 2008 to 2011 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Along the way, the show also won four Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score.