Lin-Manuel Miranda to Make Directorial Debut With ‘Tick, Tick…Boom!’

Hamilton playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda is set to make his directorial debut with Tick, Tick…Boom! for Imagine Entertainment.

Miranda will helm the film adaptation of the autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, the late playwright behind Rent. Miranda, who starred in a 2014 stage production of Tick, Tick…Boom!, will also produce, alongside Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Imagine’s Julie Oh.

Tony Award-winning playwright and TV writer Steven Levenson will pen the screen adaptation.

“Jonathan Larson’s captivating storytelling in Rent first taught me that musicals could be contemporary, true to life, and depict your own experiences. But it was Tick, Tick…Boom! that solidified that drive in me to hone my own voice as a playwright,” Miranda said Thursday in a statement.

Set in 1990, Tick, Tick…Boom! tells the story of Jon, an aspiring theater composer who is waiting tables in New York City while writing Superbia, which he hopes will be the next great American musical and become his big break. Jon is also feeling pressure from his girlfriend, Susan, who is tired of continuing to put her life on hold for his career aspirations.

Meanwhile, Jon’s best friend and roommate, Michael, has given up on his creative aspirations for a high-paying advertising job on Madison Avenue and is about to move out. As he approaches his 30th birthday, Jon is overcome with anxiety, wondering if his dream is worth the cost.

“From 8 Mile to Get On Up, I’ve always been personally drawn to stories that depict the perseverance and strength of character to follow one’s dreams,” said Grazer in his own statement. “Jonathan Larson’s story is deeply moving and inspirational. Having the amazing talents and unique visions of Lin and Steven for the film adaptation is the perfect creative fit that adds to the project’s authenticity.”

Miranda and Levenson are repped by WME.