Hamilton fans rejoice! (And if you’re not a fan, what IS WRONG with you!!) Lin-Manuel Miranda and Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger announced today that Hamilton: The Movie is coming to Disney+. And the best part? We only have to wait 52 days. 52 DAYS, PEOPLE!
It’s possible that I’m just a little bit excited.
They made the announcement on Good Morning America with Miranda sharing the good news:
“I’m thrilled to be with you this morning to announce that Hamilton will be streaming on Disney+ on July 3rd of this year for our July 4th weekend.”
And no sweeter words have ever been spoken.
If you haven’t had a chance to see Hamilton in person or listen to the soundtrack, I’m so very sorry. You are missing out on one of the GREATEST Broadway musicals OF ALL TIME. Probably THE greatest. Okay, totally THE GREATEST.
The musical was created, written, and starred in by Miranda himself. It has won 11 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has also received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
It has already sold over $636 MILLION worth of tickets since its debut in 2015.
It tells the tale of U.S. founding father Alexander Hamilton, an orphaned immigrant who becomes George Washington’s right-hand man during the American Revolution, and the first U.S. treasury secretary. But it is so much more than that.
It is a story of war, love, scandal, friendship, and betrayal, told through the best musical score of ALL TIME.
The movie is a live recording of the Broadway show at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City back in June 2016. It features all of the original cast, including Miranda as Alexander Hamilton as well as Daveed Diggs as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler, Leslie Odom, Jr. as Aaron Burr, and Jonathon Groff as King George.
It was originally slated to be released in theaters on October 15, of next year. But thanks to COVID-19, it will now forego the big screen and head straight to our living rooms.
And a year sooner than anticipated.
WOO-HOO!!
Disney bought the worldwide rights to the film for a cool $75 million. Certainly no chump change. Hamilton will premiere on Disney+ on Friday, July 3. So if you’re not a Disney+ subscriber, you’ll want to be.
In a statement to the press, Iger says:
“No other artistic work in the last decade has had the cultural impact of Hamilton—an inspiring and captivating tale told and performed in a powerfully creative way.
In light of the extraordinary challenges facing our world, this story about leadership, tenacity, hope, love and the power of people to unite against the forces of adversity is both relevant and impactful.”
Iger’s statement continues:
“We are thrilled to bring this phenomenon to Disney+ on the eve of Independence Day, and we have the brilliant Lin-Manuel Miranda and the team behind Hamilton to thank for allowing us to do so more than a year before planned.”
THANK YOU LIN-MANUEL. WE LOVE YOU!
And just in case you’re thinking that I’m the only crazy Hamilton fan out there, let me assure you, I am not. Just ask Twitter.
Miranda and the official Hamilton page tweeted the news just a few short hours ago and so far, the 10-second premiere announcement has been viewed over 3.3 million times.
Shout it to the rooftops!
It’s only a matter of time…
Our Hamilton film.
THIS July 3rd.
On Disney+.#Hamilfilm pic.twitter.com/cXTM949hRr— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) May 12, 2020
And the response? Has been overwhelming. Starting with Josh Gad, who’s Hamilton game, I gotta say, is a little on the weak side.
Well, I know what I’ll be doing the ENTIRE month of July. pic.twitter.com/2AK00CuMYK
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) May 12, 2020
Entirety of July? Pffft your Hamilton game is weak – it’s a lifelong commitment for me lmao
— kasey (@kseymcintosh) May 12, 2020
Same Kasey. Same.
And for the diehard fans? This is EVERYTHING.
Same. #Hamilkids #Hamilfilm https://t.co/k0sGDAgwyt
— Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) May 12, 2020
MY LIFE HAS A PURPOSE AGAIN. DO YA’LL KNOW HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THIS!!!!!!!!!!
— Mörl ? (@merleee_m) May 12, 2020
— Marc Rollan "El Funs" (@ElFuns) May 12, 2020
Oh my lordt I’m so excited!! pic.twitter.com/gxksRd4hVN
— Abigail Boyce ? (@abby_boyce615) May 12, 2020
— Melissa (@MelissaEspo34) May 12, 2020
— John B Official (@feardragonx) May 12, 2020
Might be? IT IS THE GREATEST THING! Well, next to actually seeing it in person, that is.
And as for the man himself? He’s excited too. His wife, Vanessa Nadal posted her own sneak peek at Miranda about to share the news with the world, saying, “He woke up like a jolt of energy (more than usual) and could not keep still!”
Sneaky photo of @Lin_Manuel excitedly/nervously waiting to drop this news. He woke up like a jolt of energy (more than usual) and could not keep still! pic.twitter.com/kN59udV8kC
— Vanessa A M Nadal (@VAMNit) May 12, 2020
With Broadway announcing that it will be shuttered until at least Labor Day, this is by far the best news we could have hoped for.
Let the countdown begin!