It’s been two years since a movie version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first Broadway hit, In the Heights was announced and things are moving in a more positive direction to get the Tony-award winning musical onto screens. Creators Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes have officially gotten back the film rights to the project from the now-bankrupt Weinstein Company.
It has been an interesting turn of events for the film adaptation of the LMM musical that won four Tonys and brought the Nuyorican impresario to audiences’ attention. Initially, the rights had been purchased by the Weinstein Company after Universal balked because they didn’t have “a big enough Latino star to bankroll” the production. And just last year music mogul Jay-Z announced he’d be co-producing the feature as part of a first-look deal with TWC. Of course all of this was before the shocking allegations against Weinstein founder, Harvey Weinstein, were revealed last October. Since then the company’s assets have been frozen. While many pictures remain in limbo Miranda and Hudes secured the rights since the film didn’t start production. When the allegations against Weinstein were revealed last November Hudes, who is screenwriter on the adaptation, slammed him in a social media post, calling him “despicable.”
Now the bidding war is on to see which studio will take the project from here. It’s rumored that either Disney or Warner Bros. will step up. Miranda has a fruitful relationship with the Mouse House, having worked on the music for Moana and starring in the upcoming Mary Poppins sequel, Mary Poppins Returns. Miranda is also working on the music for the studio’s Little Mermaid remake.
With Miranda having carte blanche to make what he wants it’d be great to see him star in his own play, reprising his role as bodega owner Usnavi. Regardless, it’s great that the rights are no longer stuck in bankruptcy hell and we can move forward on getting more LMM in our lives!