The IN THE HEIGHTS Film Adaptation Thread

The director's filmography doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence. Nor does the fact that Hudes is writing the screenplay (since the book is the musical's weak point).

hork said: "The director's filmography doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence."

I can certainly see what you're talking about. Jon M. Chu does have experience with dance, so that's probably a reason why he was considered.

Then again, if you look up Adam Shankman's filmography before he did Hairspray, it wasn't that great either.

With all due respect, Adam Shankman's directing career post-HAIRSPRAY is worst than his pre-HAIRSPRAY directing career. The colossal flop that was 2012's ROCK OF AGES kinda put the nail on the coffin. His producing work is more respected these days.



Plus, IN THE HEIGHTS isn't a dance musical. There were elements of dance and a salsa club dance sequence but the musical isn't driven by dance like WEST SIDE STORY. Jon M. Chi hasn't only directed dance films but his understanding of dance will help if elements of the musical's dance are kept in some form. On stage the dance is interpretive which works. On film, it makes no sense unless you want the film to resemble a music video.

Based on the choice of the director I can see this going the way of the Rent movie wherein they had no idea how to translate it or give it a reason to exist so they just created physical movement wherever possible (singing on a bike or walking down the street or adding a chorus of dancers!) to essentially make a reason for its existence and to make it stand out from the stage version. Of course, it was a total disaster and I can't get through it no matter how hard I try.



A visionary director is needed. By that I mean someone who is an artist in their own right. For example, when Spike Lee was slated to direct Rent I thought, "Now this makes sense. This will be GREAT." Columbus and Chu aren't very original and their projects tend to lack and creativity or cohesive vision. Remember the Harry Potter movies? The first two were so basic and then when they finally brought in a visionary director for the third it really lifted the whole series into another world that people of all ages could appreciate.



Even Chu's direction of live events is so beige and basic. I can't imagine him doing a worthy job of translating this.

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "hork said: "Jeffrey Karasarides said:
Then again, if you look up Adam Shankman's filmography before he did Hairspray, it wasn't that great either.

And neither was Hairspray."

It apparently has a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes for no reason. You may not have liked the film, but you don't speak for the majority of the people who've seen it. Most people you have seen it (myself included) actually liked it.



My mistake. The evidence you presented clearly proves that it is a great movie. I'll adjust my notes accordingly.

Well I see the sarcasm is as thick as honey in this particular thread.

I wonder what pre-existing role would Miranda take on in the ITH film. Nina's dad? Piragua guy?

I'm all for Lin making a cameo but can he sing the Piragua Guy's songs?

Lin should play Jose from the liquor store.

hork said: "The director's filmography doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence. Nor does the fact that Hudes is writing the screenplay (since the book is the musical's weak point).)

I'm terrified about this directorial choice, considering two of the films he's most known for are Jem and the Holograms, one of the worst adaptations of a cartoon ever, and the Justin Bieber documentaries, which speak for themselves. I'd like to think Hudes would go ack and correct some of her mistakes and weak points. She is a Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright, she probably knows a thing or two now about writing that she didn't know a decade ago.

I really wish there was a chance Eliseo could be the Piragua Guy. Just the best. I don't know who I'd want Lin to be; maybe someone new and small.



Also Hairspray is amazing.

Put me in the camp that found the Hairspray film disappointing. I was excited about it and I didn't think it was a bad film, but to me, it missed the mark in so many ways. I thought Dreamgirls was probably the best film adaptation of a musical in the last 20 years, though not flawless. I'd love a film of In the Heights, but I'm learning to lower my expectations. This director doesn't particularly inspire confidence in the project.

I'm willing to bet Jennifer Lopez will play Daniela given their recent collaboration for Orlando.

Lin-Manuel DID offer the role of Daniela to Sofia Vergara when the film was almost made years ago. He appeared on an episode of MODERN FAMILY and this topic was discussed at the time in the Broadway media. I don't recall her response to this offer.