Just months after its Broadway debut, producers have recognized Hamilton as the genuine phenomenon that it is. Set for a July 4, 2018 debut, the feature film adaptation will make use of state-of-the-art digital and motion capture technology to effortlessly place viewers into the musical’s setting: 1776. New York City.

Or, more specifically, 2016. New York City’s Richard Rogers Theater.

The movie, it seems, will be just a holographic projection to make it seem like you’re in the audience of the almost-Tony-Award-winning production. With tickets so difficult to grab (and the “Ham Lottery App” not making things any easier), the team at Hamilton has decided to just throw it onto the big screen sooner rather than later.

“We considered utilizing artistic touches to effectively transfer the musical to the screen, a’la Chicago or Cabaret, or even Mama Mia,” said producer Max Bialystock. “But then we just decided to use technology to recreate the stage show instead. It’s cheaper, plus it’ll be the only thing that’ll keep these fans happy. Sometimes I feel like they’ll never be satisfied.”

Indeed, most major musical adaptations are criticized heavily by fans, especially ones that have come to associate the show with its original Broadway cast. By simply recreating what already worked on stage, movie producers will avoid taking any risks, driving profits up to a maximum. If early ticket sales are to be believed (the run is already sold out in every theater across America), producers have touched on a popular vein among fans.

“I really wanted to see Hamilton on stage,” said Lindsay Theatergoer, a theater fan and patron of a tumblr blog that allows her to watch bootlegs of popular shows on Broadway. “But I couldn’t find a stream because Lin-Manuel asked people to specifically not record it. I thought that was pretty heroic, but also selfish. I love Lin-Manuel, but I hate him. I also think he’s a genius. A stupid, stupid genius.”

However, this mode of thinking isn’t universal among theater fanatics, who have found something to complain about.

“Theater is meant to be alive, you know?” said Pharaoh Theatrepatron, a constant presence at theater productions county-wide. “By recording it and putting it into a can, you’re killing it. You’re killing an art form. How does it feel? Murderer.”

Alexander Hamilton, the polymath pain-in-the-ass that built the foundation of America’s financial systems, has long been a divisive figure. So it would only follow that his legacy, which now includes the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical and this four-dimensional adaptation, would also be subject to scandal.

When asked for details, Bialystock glances off questions. He obfuscates, he dances, saying “I don’t know the details of how they’re doing it, they’re just making me a lot of money.”

Miranda himself has even jumped into the controversy.

“I don’t know what’s going on here and I absolutely do not support it,” said Miranda. “Oh, is that what we were doing that one night with the tennis ball costumes and the soundstage? That was fun.”

Hamilton: the 4D Experience promises to put audiences in the room where it happens on July 4, 2018.

April Fools’ Day!