Miranda Announces Cast for Octet Film Adaptation

Lin-Manuel Miranda has announced the full cast for his upcoming film adaptation of the a cappella musical "Octet," featuring a ensemble of stage and screen performers including Jonathan Groff, Rachel Zegler, Amanda Seyfried, and Sheryl Lee Ralph. The casting news, revealed this week alongside the start of rehearsals, marks a key step in bringing Dave Malloy's 2019 Off-Broadway production to the big screen.

The story centers on eight individuals grappling with internet addiction who gather in a church basement for a support group, locking away their phones to confront their digital compulsions through vocal harmonies and personal revelations. Malloy, the musical's writer and composer, is adapting his own book and score for the screenplay and serving as an executive producer. The film explores themes of connection, redemption, and presence in an increasingly online world, relying solely on the performers' voices without instrumental accompaniment.

Joining Groff as Henry, Zegler as Velma, Seyfried as Jessica, and Ralph as Paula are Phillipa Soo as Karly, Gaten Matarazzo as Toby, Tramell Tillman as Marvin, and Paul-Jordan Jansen as Ed. Many in the cast bring extensive theater...