Olga Merediz, who was nominated for a Tony Award for her work in the Broadway production of “In the Heights,” will reprise her role as Abuela Claudia in the upcoming film adaptation of the musical, producer Lin-Manuel Miranda announced in a tweet on Monday.
Miranda also announced that Gregory Diaz IV is joining the cast as Sonny, and Jimmy Smits is joining as Kevin Rosario.
Merediz won the Best Featured Actress in a Musical Tony in 2008 for her work in “In the Heights.” She’s since been a series regular on the U.K. Sky1 series “Bounty Hunters” and has also had recurring roles on “Orange is the New Black,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Shades of Blue” and “Law & Order: SVU.”
Jon M. Chu is directing the feature based on Miranda’s musical that he created with Quiara Alegría Hudes. “In the Heights” follows a bodega owner in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood who has mixed feelings about closing his store and retiring to the Dominican Republic after inheriting his grandmother’s fortune.
Corey Hawkins, Anthony Ramos, Melissa Barrera and Leslie Grace have all previously been announced to star in the film alongside Merediz.
“In the Heights” had originally been set up at The Weinstein Company. However, Hudes and Miranda regained control of the film rights in the aftermath of the company’s downfall following the sexual assault and harassment accusations against Harvey Weinstein, and TWC’s subsequent bankruptcy. Warner Bros. won an intense bidding war for the rights to the musical.
Scott Sanders, Anthony Bregman, Mara Jacobs are also producing. David Nicksay, Jill Furman, Kevin McCollum and Jeffrey Seller are executive producing.
Among her film credits, Merediz has starred in “Humor Me,” “Custody,” “Top Five” and “The Light of the Moon.” She also won a HOLA Award from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors for her role in “In the Heights.” And her other Broadway credits include “Reckless,” “Man of La Mancha,” “Mamma Mia” and “Les Misérables.”
Merediz is repped by Jed Abrahams at KMR and Harold Lewter/Cyd LeVin at CLA.
*taps ?*
And now I’m thrilled to announce some more #InTheHeightsMovie casting news…@TheOlgaMerediz IS Abuela Claudia!
Gregory Diaz IV IS Sonny!
Jimmy Smits IS Kevin Rosario!See y’all uptown.
…More soon. pic.twitter.com/hL1l3BiIlz— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 15, 2019