Universal Pictures has acquired the rights to the acclaimed Broadway production and has attached 'Wonder' director Stephen Chbosky and playwright Steven Levenson to the movie project.
- November 30, 2018
AceShowbiz - Tony Award winner Ben Platt is reportedly in early talks to reprise his lead role in a movie adaptation of hit Broadway musical "Dear Evan Hansen".
Studio bosses at Universal Pictures have optioned the rights to the theatre production and have tapped Wonder director Stephen Chbosky to take charge of the project, about a lonely teenager who inadvertently becomes a viral sensation on social media.
Now they are keen to bring Ben back onboard for the film version, which will be co-produced by his father, Marc Platt, according to Deadline.
Universal chiefs appear to be keen to involve as many of the show's original team as possible as playwright Steven Levenson has signed on to pen the screenplay, while the musical's lyricists, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who also wrote songs for "La La Land" and "The Greatest Showman", are also onboard as executive producers for the movie.
"Dear Evan Hansen" opened on Broadway in December, 2016, and scored nine Tony Award nominations in 2017, taking home six honours, including the coveted Best Musical and Best Actor in a Musical for Ben. It also picked up Best Book, Best Original Score, and Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Rachel Bay Jones.
