Amandla Stenberg has been cast in an upcoming film adaptation of the fan-favourite Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen.
The 21 year-old actor and singer is best known for her breakthrough role as Rue in The Hunger Games, The Hate U Give and Everything, Everything. It has been announced that she will play Alana Beck, a “high school senior whose cheery facade masks a deeper loneliness and isolation and whose response to the death of a classmate ignites a movement.”
Winning 5 Tony Awards at the 2017 ceremony, including Best Musical, Dear Evan Hansen tells the story of a young man with a social anxiety disorder, yearning to make a connection with his school friends. To do so, pretends he was close to a deceased student in order to become closer to the boy’s family.
In describing the five-star show, WhatsOnStage reviewed Dear Evan Hansen as a “desperately powerful exploration of a troubled teen sacrificing the truth for a sense of comfort – startlingly relevant for a world swaddled in screens and fleeting fictions.”
The film will also feature Ben Platt, who starred as the title character on stage for two years, winning awards for his performance. Kaitlyn Dever, best known for her role in the award-winning coming-of-age narrative Booksmart and Unbelievable, has also been cast. Dever will play Zoe Murphy, the sister of the boy who passed away.
Read more: Dear Evan Hansen: Exploring Performativity And Sincerity On Social Media
And if the stellar cast leading the film isn’t enough for you, cast your eyes on the movie’s behind-the-scenes team. Stephen Chbosky (Perks of Being A Wallflower) is reportedly directing the upcoming adaptation with Marc Platt and Adam Siegel set to produce it. The masterminds behind the soundtrack for the play—Benk Pasek and Justin Paul—will also be in charge of the music while Steve Levenson, the writer of the book for the stage musical is writing the script. Fans can also expect brand new music as Stenberg herself is set to co-compose a new song for her character.
Given that the cast is not finalised yet, the movie’s release is probably a long way off, including any glimpses at a trailer or behind-the-scene photos. But, with this announcement, the excitement for this upcoming adaptation is strong. Keep your eyes peeled for more information!
Words by Lucy Lillystone
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