Deadline reports that the upcoming feature adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony-winning play In the Heights has attached Straight Outta Compton star Corey Hawkins as one of its lead characters, Benny.
RELATED: Anthony Ramos Joins Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights Adaptation
In the novel and play, Benny is the only character who doesn’t speak Spanish. He works for Nina’s father at the taxi dispatch office and falls in love with Nina while dreaming of opening his own business and struggling with her father’s disapproval of their relationship.
Hawkins, who made his breakout in the 2015 N.W.A. biopic as the rap group’s co-founder Dr. Dre, has been part of a few major franchises following his performance with appearances in AMC’s The Walking Dead, Kong: Skull Island and the lead role in Fox’s short-lived spin-off 24: Legacy. He was most recently seen in the acclaimed crime comedy biopic BlacKkKlansman from Spike Lee, and will next be seen in Christoph Watlz’s directorial debut Georgetown, and the Netflix ensemble action film Six Underground.
In the Heights is set in Washington Heights in New York City and focuses on a bodega owner who is closing his store and retiring to the Dominican Republic after inheriting his grandmother’s fortune. The musical won the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical.
RELATED: Director Jon M. Chu Talks Adapting Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights
Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) will direct from a script written by Quiara Alegría Hudes (Hamilton). Miranda, Anthony Bregman, Mara Jacobs, and Scott Sanders will serve as producers on the project. Miranda portrayed the lead role of Usnavi in the Broadway musical, and also wrote the music and lyrics.
In The Heights will be filming next summer on location in NYC’s Washington Heights. It’s scheduled to open in June of 2020.
(Photo credit: Getty Images)
