Amandla Stenberg has been cast to join Universal Pictures’ feature adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen, the six-time Tony-winning musical starring Ben Platt. Stenberg, known for her roles in The Hate U Give; Everything, Everything; and The Hunger Games, will play high school senior Alana. Beneath her cheery facade and social-media savvy, hides a deeper loneliness and isolation, but her response to the death of a classmate ignites a movement. Playing a reconceived and expanded role in the film, Stenberg will sing a new original song composed specifically for the film, written in collaboration with Benj Paek and Justin Paul, who also wrote the music and lyrics to the original stage musical play.
Steven Levenson, who wrote the book for the stage musical, wrote the script and Stephen Chbosky (Wonder) will direct. Marc Platt (La La Land) and Adam Siegel will produce through their Universal-based Marc Platt Productions. Levenson, Pasek and Paul will executive produce. Overseeing on behalf of Universal are the studio’s Senior Vice President of Production Sara Scott and Director of Development Lexi Barta.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Kaitlyn Dever would play Zoe, the younger sister of the classmate who dies, who begins dating Hansen. Ben Platt, who won a Tony for his performance as the title character in the original stage musical play, is expected to reprise his title role.
Stenberg is represented by UTA and Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano, and was most recently seen in Netflix’s musical drama series The Eddy.
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