Universal to Produce Film Adaptation of In the Heights

Universal Pictures has announced that it has acquired the rights to produce a feature film based on the Tony Award-winning musical In The Heights, by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes. The musical’s original Broadway producers, Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller and Jill Furman, will executive produce and Quiara Alegría Hudes, who wrote the Tony nominated book for the show, will be writing the screen adaptation for the film. Former President of Production at Miramax Meryl Poster will produce, along with Miranda.

Set over three days in the upper Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights, In The Heights is about a vibrant and tight-knit community at the top of the island of Manhattan, and focuses on the hopes and dreams of three generations as they struggle to forge an identity in a neighborhood on the brink of transition. The musical is currently performing on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.

Miranda, who wrote the music and lyrics and currently stars in the show, first conceived In The Heights while in his sophomore year at Wesleyan University. In addition to the award for Best Musical, In the Heights won Tonys for Best Choreography, Best Orchestration and a Best Original Score.