Amandla Stenberg has joined the cast of Universal Pictures’ film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen. The film is based on the original stage musical with music and lyrics by Academy Award-winning duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
Stenberg is set to play Alana, a high school senior whose cheery façade and social-media savvy mask a deeper loneliness and isolation, and whose response to the death of a classmate ignites a movement. According to Deadline, the role has been reconceived and expanded for the film, with Stenberg singing a new original song composed expressly for the film. She is writing the song in collaboration with Pasek and Paul.
The film features a script by Steven Levenson and direction by Stephen Chbosky. Marc Platt and Adam Siegel will produce for their Universal-based Marc Platt Productions. Universal’s Senior Vice President of Production Sara Scott and Director of Development Lexi Barta will oversee production on behalf of the studio.
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