Amandla Stenberg to star in Dear Evan Hansen. It is an adaptation based on the original stage musical play with music and lyrics by Academy Award-winning duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
Stephen Chbosky will direct Dear Evan Hansen based on Steven Levenson’s script. Levenson also wrote the book for the stage musical. Dear Evan Hansen tells the story of a young man with social anxiety disorder. He yearns to make a connection with his peers that he fabricates a relationship with a deceased student to become closer to the boy’s family.
Stenberg will play Alana, a high school senior whose cheery façade and social-media savvy mask a deeper loneliness and isolation, and whose response to the death of a classmate ignites a movement. The role has been reconceived and expanded for the film. Stenberg will also sing a new, original song composed expressly for the film. She is writing the song in collaboration with Pasek and Paul.
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Ben Platt, who starred in the musical will star in the film, there is no word yet on if he will reprise his role as the titular character. Kaitlyn Dever is also rumored to star in the movie.
Adam Siegel will produce for their Universal-based Marc Platt Productions.
Universal’s Senior Vice President of Production Sara Scott and Director of Development Lexi Barta will oversee production on behalf of the studio.
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The winner of six 2017 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Dear Evan Hansen features a book by Tony Award-winner Steven Levenson, a score by Academy Award and Tony-winning composers Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, and direction by 4-time Tony® Award nominee Michael Greif. The Original Broadway Cast Recording of Dear Evan Hansen, produced by Atlantic Records, was released in February 2017, making an extraordinary debut on the Billboard 200 and entering the chart at #8 – the highest charting debut position for an original cast album since 1961.
Dear Evan Hansen opened at the Music Box Theatre to rave reviews on December 4, 2016, where it’s broken all box office records and has struck a chord with critics and audiences alike.