The Weinstein Co. Looks to Bring Washington Heights to the Big Screen: IN THE HEIGHTS Film Adaptation Back on Track!

Thanks to the push of Lin-Manuel Miranda's HAMILTON into the cultural zeitgeist, a little Tony-winning musical known as IN THE HEIGHTS is, once more, back on track to hit the big screen.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Weinstein Co. has picked up the long-in-the-works project, initially mounted at Universal, with show creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and Harvey Weinstein producing. Miranda is not expected to star in the adaptation, which the studio is looking to create for around $15 million.

"It's been nearly 10 years since In the Heights opened on Broadway, revealing, for the first time, Lin Manuel's ground-breaking artistry to the theater world," said long-time theater producer Scott Sanders, who is also on board as a producer. "I'm thrilled to be working with Lin and Harvey to share with audiences that same authentic sound and story from the Broadway stage to the big screen."

Per THR, Universal put the musical movie adaptation into turnaround after Kenny Ortega, originally attached to direct, proposed a $37 million budget in 2011.

BroadwayWorld will keep you updated as developments on the film break!

IN THE HEIGHTS opened in March of 2008 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, where it ran for 1184 performances. The musical features music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes. The story explores three days in the characters' lives in the New York City Dominican-American neighborhood of Washington Heights. The Broadway production was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards, winning four: Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Choreography (Andy Blankenbuehler), and Best Orchestrations (Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman). It was also a finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Check out the cast of IN THE HEIGHTS perform at the 2008 TONY AWARDS below!

Photo by Joan Marcus