Kenny Ortega, director of the High School Musical franchise and Michael Jackson’s This Is It, will next helm a feature film version of the Tony-award-winning 2008 Broadway musical In the Heights, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film — which will star Lin-Manuel Miranda, who composed, wrote, and starred in the stage production — will follow three days in New York City’s Dominican-American neighborhood of Washington Heights. Ortega recently bowed out of directing a remake of Footloose, telling EW.com at the October premiere of This Is It that he “wanted to take a few deep breaths and relax before I resurface.”
Dec 14
2009
10:16 PM ET
Kenny Ortega to direct feature film version of Tony-winning 'In the Heights'
- Comments 9
- Add comment
Latest News
- 'American Idol' Top 24: 14 names revealed
- Gail Simmons' 'Top Chef' blog: Top Two!
- 'John Carter': Fan-made trailer wins fans
- 'Glee': About THAT ending... (Spoiler Alert)
- Jamie Lee Curtis arrives on 'NCIS'
- Adele tops chart for amazing 21st week
- 'Days of Our Lives' photo: First gay kiss
- 'Idol' alum Haley Reinhart debuts single
Most Commented
- Chris Harrison blogs 'The Bachelor' episode 8 655
- Miranda Lambert tells Chris Brown to 'take notes' during 'Gunpowder and Lead' performance 611
- Father Knows Best? 591
- Amanda Knox signs a massive book deal with HarperCollins 594
- Rihanna and Chris Brown release simultaneous remixes, guest on each others' new tracks 452
Top 5 Most Read
- ‘American Idol’: 14 of Top 24 singers announced
- Most Overrated Best Picture Winners
- Jamie Lee Curtis makes her ‘NCIS’ debut: Where do you want to see her pop up next?
- ‘Glee’ winter cliffhanger: Where does it stack up against other [SPOILERS!]?
- Album Sales: Adele tops the chart for a 21st week; Bruno Mars, The Civil Wars get big Grammy bumps
Excellent news. I’m sure it will be fantastic – Miranda is astonishing in this role.
I’m so glad that this is going to be a movie!! It’s such a great musical… I just hope Kenny ortega doesn’t ruin it or make it High School musicalized… It had better be a heck of a lot like the actual musical… i mean the show can’t be THAT long… so they might as well make it as close to the original as possible…PLEASE!
As long as Miranda is in it, I will be there.
I hope Ortega doesnt ruin it. I was hoping itd be someone who can do gritty & glitzy…
As long as Piragua Man is in it, I will be there.
Why can’t they just film the stage version? Seriously.
in the heights is such a bright, uplifting musical…i have faith kenny otrega will do amazing (but i think i would’ve preferred adam shankman (director for hairspray))
Oh yay, Kenny Ortega will bring to the screen a musical about the street denizens of New York City … oh wait. Hasn’t he done that already …?
Please cast with actual Latinos!