In The Heights Looks As Magical As The New York City Neighborhood That Inspired It

there really is magic in these streets. Fans of Lin-Manuel Miranda's first — and most personalized — Broadway musical In The Heights have been patiently waiting for the feature film adaptation since director Jon M. Chu came on board the project in 2016. Right now, immediately after a little bit pacienca y fe, the initial trailer has finally arrived — and it's as colorful and electrifying because the New York City neighborhood that inspired it.


Miranda debuted the dazzling trailer for a select order of journalists and visitors at a restaurant in Washington Heights on Wednesday night (December 11), just a couple of blocks away from where it all started. "I began writing this show any time While I was 19 years old," he mentioned, "six blocks away, where my parents live." He was joined by Chu, screenwriter Quiara Alegría Hudes (who also penned the theater production), and the cast, including Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Jimmy Smits, Melissa Barrera, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Dascha Polanco, and Stephanie Beatriz.


The film follows the lives of a diverse sort of people — immigrants, children of immigrants, DREAMers, and dreamers — who live and work in Upper Manhattan's Washington Heights community. Usnavi (Ramos in the role originate by Miranda on the stage) is the local bodega owner whose "dreams are so big that he"s scared of these Ramos mentioned. He wants to win the lottery to clear his debt and begin fresh. And then there's Vanessa (Barrera), the girl of his dreams, who wants nothing more than to get out of the barrio and live downtown to pursue a career in style. Meanwhile, Nina (Leslie Grace) returns to the block following a tough first semester at Stanford University, and Benny (Hawkins) is there to show her just how much the neighborhood missed her.


Though the film is set in Washington Heights with a largely Hispanic cast, Chu was adamant to mention that the real power of Miranda's work is the universality of the story. Once I saw the show and years prior, it reminded me of my family member Chu mentioned. "I grew up in an immigrant family member. The community and the fight to survive and the correct to dream was everything to me. That's the American story. I mentioned, 'I know how create this movie why as well as how to express it.'"


And, similar to the mainstream success of his previous film, Crazy Wealthy Asians, Chu hopes the community will embrace the film and give it a groundswell of support. "I believe that this movie is an amazingly cute seed that can change a lot of minds."


In The Heights is set to hit theaters on June 26, 2020.