Its official, Disney has changed its plans to theatrically release a filmed version of Lin Manuel-Miranda’sstage musical “Hamilton” and will now push it direct-to-streaming on its Disney+ service on July 3rd this year.
That’s a move up of a full fifteen months from its originally targeted October 15th 2021 cinema release. Both Disney Executive Chairman Robert Iger and Lin-Manuel Miranda announced the news on “Good Morning America” this morning with the hope it will brighten up the July 4th weekend for everyone.
It also follows in the wake of Disney’s ESPN moving up the ten-part Michael Jordan docoseries “The Last Dance,” a move that has been both a ratings godsend and a respite for sports-starved fans. “Hamilton” was originally intended to end up on Disney+ sometime in 2022 after it finished its traditional theatrical run.
In February it was reported that Disney paid $75 million for worldwide rights – believed to be the largest sum ever for a finished film – to a 160-minute film assembled from three live performances of the Tony Award-winning musical.
Said performances were shot two weeks before the original cast left, a cast including Miranda himself along with Daveed Diggs, Leslie Odom, Jr., Jasmine Cephas Jones, Jonathan Groff, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Christopher Jackson and Anthony Ramos. At the time people had to pay around $500 a seat to get into a performance.
According to a press release, the film is being dubbed a “leap forward in the art of ‘live capture’ which transports its audience into the world of the Broadway show in a uniquely intimate way. Combining the best elements of live theater, film, and streaming, the result is a cinematic stage performance that is a wholly new way to experience ‘Hamilton.'”
Source: Disney Pictures
