By Luis Reyes
Jimmy Smits has been cast in the role of Kevin Rosario, a hard working businessman and father of Nina in the Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) directed film adaptation of Lin Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights. Smits recently completed a lead role in the NBC legal drama pilot Bluff City Law.
Olga Merediz who originated the role of Abuela Claudia in the stage version will reprise her Tony-nominated role in the film adaptation. Gregory Diaz IV will play Sonny.
Anthony Ramos (A Star is Born) stars in the lead role of Usnavi, Tony nominee Corey Hawkins as Benny, Mexican actress Melissa Barrera (Vida) as Vanessa and actress/singer Leslie Grace will play Nina.
Nina is Benny’s love interest. She is described as someone who is admired by the neighborhood due to being the first one from her family to get into an Ivy League college like Stanford University. Vanessa is Usnavi’s love interest, who is described as stunningly beautiful and catches the eye of every guy in the Heights. She lives with her alcoholic mother and dreams of moving away from the Barrio.
In the Heights won a Tony award in 2008 as Best Musical and features music and Lyrics by Lin Manuel Miranda and book by Quiara Alegria Hudes. It is the story of Usnavi, a bodega (small grocery store) owner who lives in the Latino dominated New York City neighborhood and inherits a fortune from his grandmother and decides to close up shop and return to the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean when complications arise.
The Warner Bros. film with a screenplay by Hudes is set for release next year June 30, 2020. Filming will begin this summer on location in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood where the musical is set. Lin Manuel Miranda, Anthony Bregman, Mara Jacobs and Scott Sanders serve as producers on the film.
