Lin-Manuel Miranda’s next feature directorial project is shaping up to be a powerhouse ensemble.
The upcoming film adaptation of Octet has officially assembled a stacked cast, including Sheryl Lee Ralph and Tramell Tillman, alongside a mix of Broadway and screen favorites.
The Cast of Octet
According to the announcement, the main ensemble includes:
- Amanda Seyfried as Jessica
- Rachel Zegler as Velma
- Sheryl Lee Ralph as Paula
- Phillipa Soo as Karly
- Gaten Matarazzo as Toby
- Jonathan Groff as Henry
- Tramell Tillman as Marvin
- Paul-Jordan Jansen as Ed
What Octet Is About
At its core, Octet follows eight internet-obsessed individuals who meet in a church basement support group and make a radical decision: they lock their phones away and confront their digital dependencies face-to-face.
Stripped of screens and distractions, the group is forced to navigate compulsions, loneliness, and connection using only their voices. The musical unfolds as a choral, a cappella-driven experience, built entirely around layered harmonies and vocal storytelling rather than traditional instrumentation.
The official synopsis frames the story as a meditation on “digital dependency,” with the group charting their emotional and psychological struggles in real time. Through “witty lyrics, shimmering harmonies, and virtuosic solos,” the musical explores themes of redemption, presence, and what it truly means to be connected in a hyper-digital world.
Background on the Original Musical
Octet is an Off-Broadway chamber musical created by composer and playwright Dave Malloy. The piece is known for its experimental structure and is performed entirely a cappella, with each of its eight characters contributing to a layered choral score.
The musical originally premiered in 2019 at the Signature Theatre in New York City, directed by Annie Tippe. It quickly gained a cult following for its inventive approach to storytelling, blending choral music, theatrical performance, and themes of technology addiction, faith, and human connection.
Unlike traditional musicals, Octet uses its vocal-only format to mirror the disorientation and emotional overload of the digital age, making it one of the more unconventional and conceptually daring modern stage works.
Miranda Returns to the Director’s Chair
This marks Miranda’s second time directing a feature film. His debut, tick, tick… BOOM!, earned critical acclaim and multiple award nominations for its adaptation of Jonathan Larson’s autobiographical musical.
Miranda has spoken about his long-standing fascination with Octet, noting that he first saw Annie Tippe’s production in 2019 and has spent years developing the film adaptation alongside Malloy and his creative team.
The project also reunites Miranda with producer Julie Oh, continuing their collaboration from tick, tick… BOOM!.
Production Status
Octet is currently in early production, with rehearsals already underway. The film is being produced under Miranda’s 5000 Broadway Productions banner, alongside a team of Broadway and film producers including John Skidmore, Luis A. Miranda Jr., and others.