Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘In the Heights’ Adaptation Dances Over to Weinstein Co

2008 Broadway show won Tony Award for Best Musical

Lin-Manuel Miranda in the heights
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Broadway “It” boy Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s “In The Heights” will dance again in Hollywood.

A planned film adaptation of the 2008 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical has been given new life at The Weinstein Company after languishing at Universal Pictures, an individual familiar with the project told TheWrap.

Miranda is an undeniable hot property given the staggering success of “Hamilton,” the blockbuster musical poised to sweep this year’s Tony Awards.

In “Heights” Miranda originated the role of Usanvi, a Dominican-American bodega owner. It’s currently unclear if he’ll reprise the role, though the insider said his on-screen involvement has yet to be ironed out.

Harvey Weinstein is not shy about his love of either Broadway or the movie musical, having recently brought the British musical “Finding Neverland” to New York. He’s also shepherded classics like “Chicago” to the big screen, and Rob Marshall‘s “Nine” starring Daniel-Day Lewis, Nicole Kidman and Marion Cotillard.

Central to the story is Usnavi, who struggles with the idea of closing up his shop and returning to his roots in the Dominican Republic.

Karen Olivo also stars alongside Miranda playing the role of Vanessa, his love interest. Olivo is best known for her Tony Award-winning performance in “West Side Story.” She also had a recurring role on “The Good Wife.”

“In the Heights” was also nominated for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and won the 2007 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography.

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