IN THE HEIGHTS Movie Musical Casting Update

• Pat Cerasaro

Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony Award-winning Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS is making the leap to the big screen and several announcements this week have confirmed the majority of the central cast.

Leading the company will be Anthony Ramos as Usnavi and Corey Hawkins as Benny, with Jimmy Smits as Kevin, Leslie Grace as Nina, Melissa Barrera as Vanessa, Stephanie Beatriz as Carla, Gregory Diaz as Sonny, Daphne Rubin-Vega as Daniela and Dascha Polanco as Cuca.

Additionally, Olga Merediz will reprise her Tony-nominated role as Abuela Claudia from the original production.

Jon M. Chu directs from a screenplay by Quiara Alegría Hudes. The film is scheduled to begin filming in Washington Heights later this year.

No release date has been officially announced, but the film is expected to be released in 2020.