As if bringing in a haul of Tony awards by creating two memorable musicals (one of them, about American history, already a pop culture sensation), scoring Oscar nominations for his song work and making the occasional appearance on camera wasn't enough, Lin-Manuel Miranda is now turning his hand to directing, as Imagine Entertainment has hired him to oversee a film based on Jonathan Larson's musical Tick, Tick... Boom!
The show, from the man who created Rent, is an autobiographical work set in 1990, and follows aspiring musical writer Jon. While writing what he hopes will be the next great American stage production, he pays the bills waiting tables, while his girlfriend Susan wonders why she keeps putting her own life on hold to support his career aspirations. Jon's best friend and roommate Michael, meanwhile, has given up on the stage world to take a highly paid advertising job, and all three wonder if they've made the right choice.
Miranda played Jon in an off-broadway production, and seems typically enthused about taking on the task of directing the film adaptation. “Tick, Tick... Boom! first entered my life in college when I was lucky enough to snag a seat at the Jane Street Theater in 2001,” Miranda tells Deadline. “Jonathan Larson’s captivating storytelling in Rent first taught me that musicals could be contemporary, true to life, and depict your own experiences. But it was Tick, Tick... Boom! that solidified that drive in me to hone my own voice as a playwright. On stage, playing the role of Jon in 2014 was one of my most honored achievements. To now have the opportunity to make my film directorial debut, in collaboration with the Larson Family and this incredible creative team, and to adapt a work I love so deeply, is a humbling privilege. Together, we aim to honor Jonathan’s legacy and continue to position his work to inspire the next generation of storytellers."
The team around him is just as impressive, as Ron Howard and Brian Grazer are producers and the script comes from Dear Evan Hansen book writer Steven Levenson, himself the winner of a Tony.
Miranda will next be seen in Mary Poppins Returns, due on 21 December, and is also part of the team bringing his first musical, In The Heights, to screens.
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