The Walt Disney Company will fast-track the premiere of “Hamilton” the film, bringing it to homes across the country this summer.
“Hamilton” — the “live capture” film of the Tony Award-winning Broadway play — will stream directly on Disney Plus beginning on July 3, 2020. The film was originally slated for release on Oct. 15, 2021.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jeffrey Seller and Thomas Kail all remain producers of the project.
“No other artistic work in the last decade has had the cultural impact of ‘Hamilton’—an inspiring and captivating tale told and performed in a powerfully creative way. In light of the extraordinary challenges facing our world, this story about leadership, tenacity, hope, love and the power of people to unite against the forces of adversity is both relevant and impactful,” said Robert A. Iger, executive chairman of The Walt Disney Company. “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.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda praised the idea that the filmed version of the play will be viewed from home.
“I’m so proud of how beautifully Tommy Kail has brought ‘Hamilton’ to the screen. He’s given everyone who watches this film the best seat in the house,” he said. “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. I’m so grateful to all the fans who asked for this, and I’m so glad that we’re able to make it happen. I’m so proud of this show. I can’t wait for you to see it.”
“Hamilton” originally debuted in June 2016. It stars Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton; Daveed Diggs as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson; Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler; Leslie Odom, Jr. as Aaron Burr; Tony Award nominees Christopher Jackson as George Washington; Jonathan Groff as King George; Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton; and Jasmine Cephas Jones as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds; Okieriete Onaodowan as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison; and Anthony Ramos as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton.
The decision to stream the film comes amid the coronavirus pandemic. Disney has shifted release dates to deal with the pandemic. The company pledged to release “Artemis Fowl” on Disney Plus instead of theaters, and it released Pixar’s “Onward,” “Frozen 2” and “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” weeks early.