When it rains, it pours. The world seems to be on fire with the HAMILTON craze, and as expected, it’s seemed to have raised the profile of the musical’s creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, as well as anything he’s worked on in the past, including the 2008 Broadway musical, IN THE HEIGHTS. 

THR is reporting that the production is being adapted into a film for $15 million by the Weinstein company.

“As a kid from Queens, I’ve always loved bringing New York stories to film,” Weinstein said. “In the Heights and Lin-Manuel brought Washington Heights to Broadway back in 2008 and in the process turned the theater world on its head. The movie musicals of the 1950s were incredible, but IN THE HEIGHTS will revolutionize what movie audiences expect from the genre.“

This is undoubtedly a great way for the studio to profit from the current HAMILTON craze. With the musical getting so much success and traction in the mainstream media, there are many who would love to see the play, but don’t have the means to. The production of this film could be a great way for them to get the flavor for Miranda’s style without having to pay an arm and a leg for a Broadway ticket.

IN THE HEIGHTS, which spans three days in Washington Heights, a New York City Latino neighborhood, won four Tony awards in 2008, including the one for best musical. It had previously been in development over at Universal Pictures, but ceased working on it back in 2011 when it was decided the $37 million budget to make the film wasn’t worth the investment. 

There is no director for the film set yet, but it will be produced by Scott Sanders, who is perhaps best known for EVITA and THE COLOR PURPLE. From the sound of it, the Weinstein company will not be working off the same script that was written for Universal, but rather one from Quiara Algeria Hudes, who wrote the book for the original stage show. 

What do you think of the news about IN THE HEIGHTS being adapted to film? Let us know in the comments down below!

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SOURCE: THR