HAMILTON in Movie Theaters

[BroadwayConcierge]

Early stages?

https://www.wsj.com/articles/hamilton-may-be-headed-to-the-movies-1532450232?mod=e2fb

[schubox]

It’s not an adaptation. It literally says in the first paragraph it’s not an adaptation. It’s the filmed stage version the OBC did a couple years ago. 2020 or 21 seems a bit soon for this

[BroadwayConcierge]

schubox said: "It’s not an adaptation. It literally says in the first paragraph it’snot anadaptation.It’s the filmed stage version the OBC did a couple years ago. 2020 or 21 seems a bit soon for this"

I got ahead of myself! Corrected  

[BrodyFosse123]

Exactly. It’s the well-documented film archive of the original Broadway cast done weeks before many of the original cast left the show.  This isn’t a new film adaptation.

Also, this could end up streaming on Netflix as an Exclusive so it isn’t necessarily being considered as a theatrical release.  

Please refrain from dream casting a film adaptation as this isn’t that.  It’s already been filmed.  

[schubox]

BroadwayConcierge said: "schubox said: "It’s not an adaptation. It literally says in the first paragraph it’snot anadaptation.It’s the filmed stage version the OBC did a couple years ago. 2020 or 21 seems a bit soon for this"

I got ahead of myself! Corrected "

Yeah sorry that came off so dickish 

[BwayLB]

It can’t be that late. It must be soon I’m desperate to see Hamilton in the closest splendor as we will ever get.

[BobbyBubby]

It would be nice if they kept the ticket price low for those who can’t afford the crazy prices in Broadway and beyond. But I’m not holding my breath.

[jacobsnchz14]

They filmed without an audience, no? Shall this be a glorified "live" (not on) TV musical?

[BroadwayConcierge]

jacobsnchz14 said: "They filmed without an audience, no? Shall this be a glorified "live" (not on) TV musical?"

The recording took place during a regular performance with an audience!

[Solipsist234]

Well, I'm excited, nonetheless! Granted, I did get the chance to see the OBC (minus Jonathan Groff) before they won all of those Tonys, but I definitely still want to see this!

[Call_me_jorge]

I agree this does seem a bit too early to release it, but I’m excited for those who haven’t seen the show to get he chance to.

[Fetus]

I hope we get this sooner rather than later. The energy the original cast carried was tremendous and I'd love to relive it in HD, and it will be interesting to watch with today's knowledge on how successful many of those performers have became since.

[Rainah]

I'm excited, I thought it would be another few years before we started hearing this. To relive all the magic of the OBC in HD would really be something. Kudos to the Hamilton team, who do seem to be keen to release it as soon as it could possibly make sense. 

[macnyc]

I would love to see the original cast again! 2020 can't come soon enough.

[gypsy101]

i love Hamilton and want this filmed performance as much as anyone but this seems like an odd business strategy. i feel like this could take away good money from the many live productions. still excited for it and when it finally is released

[SomethingPeculiar]

If the Hamilton producers waited another 5-10 years to sell the filmed stage show, they would probably get less $$ for it — especially if they’re asking $50 MILLION like the article says. The property is still hot, but it might be perceived as less valuable when the show is 10+ years old. 2020/21 is still a good 5 years after it premiered. (And if they wait too long, it could be weird to have 50-year-old Lin promoting a film featuring 35-year-old Lin)

Or they could be going the Les Mis route: filmed stage version now (in Les Mis’s case, the 10th anniversary concert) and a feature film ~15 years later.

[haterobics]

BobbyBubby said: "It would be nice if they kept the ticket price low for those who can’t afford the crazy prices in Broadway and beyond. But I’m not holding my breath."

Low ticket prices = Higher scalper profits.

[BJR]

SomethingPeculiar said: "Or they could be going the Les Mis route: filmed stage version now (in Les Mis’s case, the 10th anniversary concert) and a feature film ~15 years later."

Bet you that's the plan. 

And I think it could be great and innovative. I think it's likely it would be a hit.

[Rainah]

gypsy101 said: "i love Hamilton and want this filmed performance as much as anyone but this seems like an odd business strategy. i feel like this could take away good money from the many live productions. still excited for it and when it finally is released"

I love it for this exact reason; it may finally put to death the myth that releasing a proshot will kill sales of the live show. 

Anyone who's a dedicated theatre fan has already seen the bootleg. Bootlegs are everywhere, you can watch it on youtube, the barrier to entry is very low and regardless of morality most people have watched it. And yet, we all still shell out for the live version. 

As for the tourists, it can only help imo. A lot of them go to NYC, say "while we're in new york, we should see a broadway show!" and pick something they recognize and know they'll like. A proshot increases the likelihood that they'll recognize the property, and choose it as their live show to see. 

For Hamilton, the first big rush is over. There will never again be people sleeping outside for 3-5 days or paying several grand a ticket. They need to make sure they're positioned as an iconic property and a mainstay on broadway a la Phantom (Or to a slightly lesser extend, Wicked) if they want to stay prosperous. Gotta look long term. 

[sueb1863]

I just hope that whoever buys it makes it widely available to see, and it's not one of those "We're putting it in movie theaters, but only two theaters per state, and we're only showing it for one day at 2:00 and 7:00" sorts of things.

[BrodyFosse123]

I just hope that whoever buys it makes it widely available to see, and it's not one of those "We're putting it in movie theaters, but only two theaters per state, and we're only showing it for one day at 2:00 and 7:00" sorts of things.

They most likely will do a 1-2 day limited showings theatrical release with a $25 ticket price prior to it debuting as a Netflix Exclusive.   They definitely want to market it as a major event so keeping it exclusive and eventful prior to it streaming is an obvious marketing strategy.  It’s been made apparent on various media outlets this film is intended as a streaming exclusive.  

[SomethingPeculiar]

BrodyFosse123 said: "I just hope that whoever buys it makes it widely available to see, and it's not one of those "We're putting it in movie theaters, but only two theaters per state, and we're only showing it for one day at 2:00 and 7:00" sorts of things.

Theymost likely will do a 1-2 day limited showings theatrical release with a $25 ticket price prior to it debuting as a Netflix Exclusive. They definitely want to market it as a major event so keeping it exclusive and eventful prior to it streaming is an obvious marketing strategy. It’s been made apparent on various media outlets this film is intended as a streaming exclusive."


If Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox get it, as was rumored in an article, they don't have streaming services. And if they're paying $50 million + the cost of marketing the film, they sure as heck will run it in theaters for more than 1-2 days. $50 mil is way more expensive than most indie films.

The property does seem like something that would best serve a streamer like Netflix or Amazon or HBO or Disney's new company, which are always looking for new types of content.