Jon M. Chu is responding to accusations of “white washing” the roles of Afro-Latinx characters in the In The Heights movie.
After streaming the movie on HBO Max or seeing the new flick in theaters, many people took to social media to air some grievances about not seeing more Black Latinx performers.
Click inside to read what Jon said about the issue…More Here! »
The streets are crowded these days!
Director Jon M. Chu revealed in an interview with The Wrap that In The Heights was filmed in the same spot as Steven Spielberg‘s upcoming West Side Story in Washington Heights, New York.
The two movies were both filming in the summer of 2019.
“We were right there in each other’s back some days. There was one day where their catering truck was literally in our shot and we had to go over there and be like, ‘Can you move your catering truck that way, guys, please?’” he revealed, adding that there was a “camaraderie” between the two projects.
“There was like a fun rivalry. All the dancers know each other. There was fighting over who was getting who, but at the end of the day, everyone’s working — how beautiful is it that everyone’s working? And what a great time in the musical space that two of us can exist. I love it when people are like, oh, you guys are like rivals, and you’re like, it only begs the question, why can’t there be two? Why can’t there be more than one musical about LatinX people in New York City? We need to get to that place. If it feels odd, that means something’s wrong,” he continued.
In The Heights just opened in theaters – and you’ll want to stick around for the end credits.
There’s a quick moment in the movie In the Heights that pays tribute to creator Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s other hit musical, Hamilton.
If you aren’t a mega-fan of Hamilton, you most likely missed the moment because it only lasted for a few seconds and featured an instrumental version of a song from the musical.
Jon M. Chu, the director of the In the Heights movie, is opening up about the fun Easter Egg and how it was all Lin-Manuel‘s idea.
Click inside for all of the details… More Here! »
Lin-Manuel Miranda gets his dance on with wife Vanessa Nadal during the In The Heights Opening Night After Party on Wednesday night (June 9) in New York City.
Click inside to see more pics from the after party!More Here! »
Jon M. Chu is opening up about his one regret with Crazy Rich Asians.
The movie, starring Henry Golding and Constance Wu, made a huge impact at the box office, as it made $237 million worldwide. It also became the highest-grossing romantic comedy of the past decade.
Click inside to read what Jon said his regret was…More Here! »
The highly anticipated movie musical In the Heights will be released in theaters in June and the first reactions from early screenings are in!
Step Up and Crazy Rich Asians‘ Jon M. Chu directed the film, which is based on the Broadway show written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes.
Here is the film’s official synopsis: “Lights up on Washington Heights…The scent of a cafecito caliente hangs in the air just outside of the 181st Street subway stop, where a kaleidoscope of dreams rallies this vibrant and tight-knit community. At the intersection of it all is the likeable, magnetic bodega owner Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), who saves every penny from his daily grind as he hopes, imagines and sings about a better life.”
Anthony, best known for his work in Broadway’s Hamilton and the movie A Star is Born, is joined in the movie by Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Olga Merediz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Stephanie Beatriz, Dascha Polanco, Gregory Diaz IV, Jimmy Smits, and Lin as the Piragua Guy.
The early reviews on Twitter are mostly raves, with many saying it’s not only one of the best movie musicals in year, but one of the best films in a while. There is even awards buzz brewing with many saying that Olga, who is reprising her Tony-nominated work from Broadway, should get a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Oscars.
In the Heights is also getting praise for giving the Latinx community the representation they deserve on the big screen. Make sure to watch the movie when it’s released in theaters and on HBO Max on June 11!
Click inside to read all of the early reactions… More Here! »
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jon M. Chu are on the cover of the latest issue of Variety.
Here’s what the 41-year-old playwright and the 41-year-old director had to say…
Lin-Manuel Miranda, on the long struggle to get In the Heights made into a movie, which was first optioned by Universal: “I was so naive. I thought once a studio buys the rights to the movie, the movie’s getting made. I didn’t know the sheer tonnage of miles between acquiring the rights and a green light. You can find interviews of me being like, the In the Heights movie is happening any minute now!”
Find out what else they said…More Here! »
