Lin-Manuel Miranda to Direct Octet Film Adaptation

Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of the hit musicals Hamilton and In the Heights, announced on Thursday that he will direct a feature film adaptation of Octet, the a cappella musical by Dave Malloy that explores the perils of internet addiction.

The project marks Miranda's second outing as a feature film director, following his 2021 adaptation of Jonathan Larson's Tick, Tick... Boom!, which starred Andrew Garfield and earned critical acclaim along with two Academy Award nominations for best actor and best film editing. Octet, which premiered Off-Broadway at the Signature Theatre in New York City in May 2019 under director Annie Tippe, centers on eight internet-obsessed individuals who gather in a church basement for a support group. They lock their phones in a box and confront their digital compulsions through vocal harmonies, witty lyrics and themes of connection, redemption and presence. The production, which ran until June 2019 and later had a West Coast premiere at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2022, received Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk and Obie Awards for its innovative score and storytelling.

Malloy, known for his Tony-nominated Broadway musical Natasha, Pierre and the Great...