By Gregg McQueen
Lin-Manuel Miranda, who will play El Piragüero, is seen here on location.
Lin-Manuel Miranda can’t wait.
The award-winning artist and uptown native is eager for Northern Manhattan residents to see the film version of his musical In The Heights. Slated for release next summer by Warner Bros. Pictures, the movie was filmed this summer in Washington Heights.
Speaking to Manhattan Times at the United Palace on October 17, Miranda, who will play the role of El Piragüero in the film version, expressed excitement about viewing a post-production version of the film with Quiara Alegría Hudes, who co-wrote the story and the music.
“Quiara and I go see a rough cut tomorrow morning,” he said. “The trailer will hopefully be ready by the beginning of next year, because we come out in June.”
Directed by John M. Chu, the film features Anthony Ramos in the role of Usnavi and also stars Leslie Grace, Corey Hawkins, Melissa Barrera, and Marc Anthony.
Miranda said his goal is to premiere the film in Washington Heights, and remarked that he was proud to hold the production in the neighborhood and help support the local economy.
“Almost all of the extras in the movie are local hires, there are local hires in the production team,” Miranda said. “We couldn’t just impose our will and impose our crews on the street. We have to become family.”
“The goal was not only to capture the soul of our neighborhood, but leave it better than we found it,” he added.
Earlier that day, at 809 Restaurant on Dyckman Street, Miranda and Hudes were present at a luncheon hosted by Warner Bros. to thank local community groups with helping to support the film.
Read more: The Pining of El Piragüero | Manhattan Times
Melissa Barrera (Vanessa) and Anthony Ramos (Usnavi) took to the streets this summer.
The film, In The Heights, is slated for release in 2020.
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