IN THE HEIGHTS Adaptation Set to Get Underway This Spring; Lin-Manuel Miranda to Appear?

HAMILTON creator Lin-Manuel Miranda is featured on the cover of the new issue of Variety. In the feature story, the Tony Award winner speaks about his latest projects and hints that a movie musical, TV show or all-new stage show may be part of his future plans.

While pondering how he may follow up the success of his Tony-winning hip-hop musical, Miranda reveals that he has plans to direct a movie musical one day. "That's one of those things that I would kick myself if I didn't try to do," he says. "That's a bucket-list thing."

In addition to overseeing the Chicago opening of HAMILTON, the busy actor and composer recently penned music for Disney's MOANA and will soon begin filming on what he describes as a "straight up sequel" to Disney's MARY POPPINS, opposite Emily Blunt. "Michael and Jane Banks have grown up, and they find themselves in their own spot, and Mary Poppins comes back to take care of Michael's kids," he shares. "I play a lamplighter named Jack who sort of grew up apprenticing to Bert. So I know if Mary Poppins shows up, it's gonna get awesome. I perform that function in the movie, of saying: 'Y'all don't know about Mary Poppins. When Mary's around, cool sh- happens.'"

Asked if he received any advice from the legendary Dick Van Dyke, who starred in the original 'Poppins' film, he says, "I haven't met Dick Van Dyke. I'd love to meet him. I cried like everyone else did when he showed up on 'The Wonderful World of Disney: Disneyland 60' and started stepping in time. Just horizontal tears out of my face."

Also on Miranda's agenda are two new films projects. The first, an untitled project with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes. The second, a film adaptation of Broadway's IN THE HEIGHTS, co-produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Scott Sanders for The Weinstein Company, directed by Jon M. Chu and adapted by Hudes, who penned the book for the stage show. With filming on 'Heights' expected to get underway this spring, Miranda hopes to be featured in a pre-existing role (although not the central role of Usnavi), or a newly written role for the film.

In addition, Miranda teases he's got some "Hamilton"-sized ideas, which he describes as, "ones I carry around with me like luggage." Though he wouldn't give specific details on them, he does share, "I think some of them might be movies, and some of them might be the germ of a TV series, and one of them might be a stage show."

As to whether he will ever return to the role of Alexander Hamilton on Broadway or in one of the many upcoming national productions of the show, the talented star does not rule out the possibility!

Read the article in full HERE

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos

IN THE HEIGHTS photo by Joan Marcus