HAMILTON's Lin-Manuel Miranda Is Developing a Secret Film Project for Disney
Lin-Manuel Miranda has been on fire since he created the Broadway hit Hamilton. Before Hamilton even became a hit, Disney opened the doors to him and hired him to work on Moana. Since then Disney has formed a solid relationship with him, and he's set to work on Mary Poppins Returns and The Little Mermaid.
According to Vulture, he is also currently working on a secret project for the studio with Zootopia co-director Byron Howard. It's a new animated feature that they are building together from the ground up. The entertainer told the site how the project came about:
"That's the fun thing about working with someone and having it go well — you go, 'Okay, what else can we do?' [John] Lasseter took me aside and said, 'I have an idea: Here's Byron, and you guys should start talking.'"
He wouldn't really say anything about what the project is, but he made it clear that it's going to be a few years before we see anything from it. He said, "We literally haven't gotten in the room yet, but we're plotting." He went on to talk a little bit about The Little Mermaid project he's developing, saying:
"I'm intimidated. This came out of a conversation with Disney, and basically they were like, 'There's no bigger fan of this movie than you, and no bigger public supporter.'"
He revealed that he is still in talks with Disney about the kind of role he'll play in the live-action adaptation, but he's excited about the prospects. He's up for doing anything they need him to do.
"We're in super-early talks — I literally don't have a title for what my job on The Little Mermaid is yet. Right now, it's the guy who wears the 'don't mess it up' hat. If I could sign a contract with that job title on it, that would be great! But that's sort of where we are.
"If this requires new music, I'm here for that, and if this requires me weighing in on who makes this thing, I'm here for that. If this requires me just saying, 'That doesn't look like it's underwater,' I'm even here for that! It's going to be a huge challenge to not make it feel uncanny valley–ish." And if it requires Miranda to take a role himself, then what? "I'm such a fan that I can't picture where I'd fit into that universe," he said. "But no matter what, I'm here for the ride."
Miranda is one hell of a crazy talented guy. I was completely blown away by Hamilton, and I'm very excited to see what he ends up creating next.