New ‘In The Heights’ movie trailer teases prideful moment of Latino visibility, cast says
Written by laserteam on March 15, 2021
(NBC News) – Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton,” and film director Jon M. Chu are ready to bring Latinos the “Crazy Rich Asians” moment many have been craving.
Chu, who directed “Crazy Rich Asians,” one of 2018’s biggest blockbusters, partnered with Miranda and screenwriter Quiara Alegría Hudes to adapt Miranda’s Tony-winning musical “In The Heights” into a film set to premiere June 18 in theaters and on HBO Max.
“This is a big movie musical,” Miranda said during a virtual event Saturday ahead of the premiere of the film’s newest trailers during the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards Sunday night.
“We’re so used to asking for less, just to ask to occupy space. As Latinos, we’re like, ‘Please just let us make our little movie.’ And Jon, on every step of the way, he was like, ‘Nope, this is a big movie.’ These guys have big dreams, we’re allowed to go that big,” Miranda said.
“In The Heights” tells the story of a block that’s disappearing as gentrification begins to take hold of the predominantly Latino neighborhood of New York City’s Washington Heights, where the film was shot over two years ago and where Miranda grew up. The film centers on several characters dealing with issues of family, love and community — an ode to the original musical which was highly praised for countering Latino stereotypes.
