Good news for adult theater fans and kids who aced their history tests because of Hamilton lyrics alike: The musical’s creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, will release a filmed version of the show on Disney+ on July 3.
A filmic version of Hamilton was due to hit the big screen on October 15, 2021, but the team behind it has decided to hit the gas pedal and make the musical available to the masses during what’s projected to be a slow, likely quarantined summer.
The drop of the movie, which was acquired during by Disney for $75 million in worldwide rights, during the run-up to July 4th weekend isn’t an accident, given its intensely patriotic themes. “I’m so grateful to Disney and Disney+ for reimagining and moving up our release to July 4th weekend of this year, in light of the world turning upside down,” Miranda said in a statement. “We are thrilled to bring this phenomenon to Disney+ on the eve of Independence Day, and we have the brilliant Lin-Manuel Miranda and the team behind ‘Hamilton’ to thank for allowing us to do so more than a year before planned,” added Disney chair Bob Iger.
Fans who weren’t able to see the original Hamilton cast on Broadway are in for a treat, as the filmed version coming in July will feature original stars Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Leslie Odom Jr., Christopher Jackson, and—of course—Miranda himself. Considering the astronomical prices that viewers paid to see these performers in person, it sounds like we’re in for a bargain.