A new trailer for the upcoming musical film adaptation of In The Heights dropped last night (March 14) during the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, and we couldn’t be anymore ready! The trailer is big, bold, and vivid–a small sampling of what the film has in store for a community that is not only in need of healing, but is ready for it.
Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda thanked the director Jon M. Chu, for helping him to realize that this film deserved to get the big movie musical treatment. “I think we’re so used to asking for less—just to ask to occupy space as Latinos,” said Miranda during a live virtual event for the trailer premiere. “Like, let us make our little movie. Jon, every step of the way, was like, ‘No. This is a big movie. These guys have big dreams. We’re allowed to go that big.’ I’m just so thrilled with what he did because I think it’s bigger than any of us ever dreamed.”
“You can’t change the world if they don’t want to change, but never underestimate the power of planting a seed,” Chu said. “I believe that this movie is an amazingly beautiful seed that can change a lot of minds.”
The film stars Anthony Ramos, as Usnavi, the role originated by Miranda on stage; Ramos gets “emotional” when he thinks about the film, and what its impact might be on the Latino community, who not only is severely underrepresented in Hollywood, but has disproportionately suffered immense loss due to COVID-19.
“I’ve never seen anything where there’s 75 Latinos in the middle of the street dancing and singing about pride and where they come from,” Ramos said during the virtual event. “I get emotional when I’m thinking about this movie and what it means to me and the culture.”
Melissa Barrera (VIDA), Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton), singer/songwriter Leslie Grace, Olga Merediz (Broadway’s In The Heights), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Broadway’s Rent), Gregory Diaz IV (Broadway’s Matilda The Musical), Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Dascha Polanco (Orange Is The New Black) and legendary Jimmy Smits also star in the film.
In The Heights is written by Quiara Alegría Hudes and music by Miranda. It is set to premiere June 18 in theaters and on HBO Max.