Disney and the team behind Hamilton have shocked fans this morning by announcing that Lin Manuel-Miranda’s beloved musical will premiere on Disney+ this July, which is more than a year earlier than planned.
The studio had announced in February that Hamilton would be in theaters October 2021, but the coronavirus pandemic has led Disney and Hamilton’s team to bump up the release date to July 3, 2020 — one day before Independence Day. This also means that Hamilton will skip theaters entirely.
This theatrical release will depict a taping of the original cast from June 2016. In a press release, Disney says “the film is a leap forward in the art of ‘live capture’ which transports its audience into the world of the Broadway show in a uniquely intimate way. Combining the best elements of live theater, film, and streaming, the result is a cinematic stage performance that is a wholly new way to experience ‘Hamilton.'”
“No other artistic work in the last decade has had the cultural impact of ‘Hamilton’—an inspiring and captivating tale told and performed in a powerfully creative way. In light of the extraordinary challenges facing our world, this story about leadership, tenacity, hope, love and the power of people to unite against the forces of adversity is both relevant and impactful,” said Robert A. Iger, Executive Chairman of The Walt Disney Company. “We are thrilled to bring this phenomenon to Disney+ on the eve of Independence Day, and we have the brilliant Lin-Manuel Miranda and the team behind ‘Hamilton’ to thank for allowing us to do so more than a year before planned.”
“I’m so proud of how beautifully [director] Tommy Kail has brought ‘Hamilton’ to the screen. He’s given everyone who watches this film the best seat in the house,” said Lin-Manuel Miranda. “I’m so grateful to Disney and Disney+ for reimagining and moving up our release to July 4th weekend of this year, in light of the world turning upside down. I’m so grateful to all the fans who asked for this, and I’m so glad that we’re able to make it happen. I’m so proud of this show. I can’t wait for you to see it.”
The cast of Hamilton is as follows: Lin-Manuel Miranda is Alexander Hamilton; Daveed Diggs is Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson; Renée Elise Goldsberry is Angelica Schuyler; Leslie Odom, Jr. is Aaron Burr; Tony Award nominees Christopher Jackson is George Washington; Jonathan Groff is King George; Phillipa Soo is Eliza Hamilton; and Jasmine Cephas Jones is Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds; Okieriete Onaodowan is Hercules Mulligan/James Madison; and Anthony Ramos is John Laurens/Philip Hamilton.
Disney has fast-tracked several titles to Disney+ due to stay-at-home orders and theaters closing. Frozen II and Onward are two other movies that were pushed to the streamer way earlier than expected.
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