Lin-Manuel Miranda has a gift for theater lovers everywhere. During Tuesday’s episode of “The Tonight Show,” the Tony Award-winning creator announced that the filmed version of his groundbreaking musical “Hamilton” will finally get its theatrical release on September 5.
From Streaming Success to Silver Screen
The announcement comes as a perfect capstone to “Hamilton’s” 10th anniversary celebrations. “Tomorrow is the 10-year anniversary of ‘Hamilton,’ and we’ve been celebrating all year,” Miranda told host Jimmy Fallon. “But we have one more way to celebrate.”
The filmed “Hamilton” originally debuted on Disney+ in July 2020, arriving roughly a year earlier than its planned October 2021 theatrical release due to the pandemic. The streaming debut was a cultural phenomenon, bringing the Tony-winning musical into homes worldwide during lockdown and introducing countless new fans to Miranda’s revolutionary biographical musical about America’s founding father Alexander Hamilton.
Now, audiences will finally experience the production as originally intended—on the big screen in theaters nationwide and in Puerto Rico. Tickets go on sale August 6, giving fans just enough time to clear their September schedules for this theatrical event.
A Live Capture, Not an Adaptation
Unlike recent Broadway-to-film adaptations such as Miranda’s own “In The Heights” (2021), the “Hamilton” movie is a “live capture” of the original Broadway production filmed in 2016 with most of the show’s legendary original cast intact. This approach preserves the intimate energy and staging that made the Broadway production so electrifying while giving audiences the cinematic experience of premium seats to one of theater’s most sought-after shows.
The original cast delivered career-defining performances that helped “Hamilton” sweep the 2016 Tony Awards with 11 wins and earn Miranda a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The stellar ensemble includes Miranda as Alexander Hamilton, Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, Daveed Diggs in the dual role of Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, Christopher Jackson as George Washington, Jonathan Groff as King George, Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler, and Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton.
Broadway’s Revolutionary Musical
Since its 2015 Broadway debut, “Hamilton” has redefined what American musical theater can be. Miranda’s hip-hop influenced score and diverse casting brought fresh energy to the story of America’s first Secretary of the Treasury, exploring themes of ambition, legacy, and the complexities of the American dream through a modern lens.
The musical’s impact extends far beyond entertainment, sparking conversations about representation in theater and American history. Its innovative approach to storytelling—using rap battles to dramatize political debates and casting Black and Latino actors as white founding fathers—has influenced a generation of theatergoers and creators.
The cast recently reunited for a special 10th anniversary performance during the Tony Awards in June, reminding audiences why “Hamilton” remains one of Broadway’s most beloved productions.
A Premium Production
The journey to the big screen represents a significant investment in bringing live theater to film audiences. Rights to the “Hamilton” movie reportedly sold for $75 million in a deal brokered by Endeavor Content, with Disney ultimately winning the bidding war against other major studios including Warner Bros.
That investment paid off when the Disney+ special earned critical acclaim and awards recognition, winning two Primetime Emmys from 12 nominations, including Outstanding Variety Special. The streaming release proved that audiences hunger for high-quality filmed theater, paving the way for this theatrical re-release.
The Theater Experience Returns
For many fans, September’s theatrical release offers the first opportunity to experience “Hamilton” as a communal event. The energy of watching this revolutionary musical with a theater full of fellow fans promises to recapture some of the magic that made “Hamilton” a cultural phenomenon.
Whether you’re a longtime fan ready to revisit the founding fathers’ story or a newcomer curious about the musical that changed Broadway forever, the September 5 theatrical release of “Hamilton” offers an unmissable opportunity to witness theatrical history on the big screen.
With tickets going on sale August 6, this limited theatrical engagement promises to be one of the most anticipated entertainment events of the fall season.
