Hamilton cast on Disney+ movie: ‘It’s so needed right now’
- Film’s release comes at a time when historic statues and monuments are being removed across the US as the country grapples with the legacy of racism
- Cast member Okieriete Onaodowan says he is excited ‘to see how this affects young black people today’
Hamilton is bringing its groundbreaking blend of hip-hop musical numbers, inclusive casting and political revolution to Disney+ at a poignant moment in US racial history, its creator and original cast said.
A filmed version of the Broadway stage phenomenon, about the US founding fathers told through the lens of modern, multi-ethnic America, lands on Disney’s streaming platform on July 3.
With cinemas across the US and a number of other countries closed due to the pandemic, and the show’s initial cast having long ago moved on to other endeavours, the movie offers a rare chance to see the original run of a show that won 11 Tonys and has grossed US$1 billion worldwide.
Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda said his excitement had been piqued by witnessing the musical’s influence on nationwide anti-racism protests that followed George Floyd’s death in police custody last month.
“When I see a sign at a protest out in the street that says ‘History has its eyes on you’ or ‘Tomorrow there’ll be more of us’, I know that the language of the show is connecting in a way that makes me incredibly proud,” Miranda told an online press conference, referring to popular lyrics from the show. “I can’t even wrap my mind around [that].”
