Hamilton Broadway Coming to Disney Plus July 3

[theatretenor2]

Now that In the Heights has been pushed back...

https://twitter.com/Lin_Manuel/status/1260181905909129216?s=20

This being a Disney+ exclusive tells me it will probably never be available for purchase. 

[qolbinau]

Gee this is much sooner than I was expecting. Excited to see the original cast - tbh I felt this show was a massive rip off in person. Paying $200 USD to sit at the back of the Rogers with a board full of understudies and replacements felt a little too much business and not enough art. I want the magic back!

[everythingtaboo]

HOLY CRAP! Total shocker here. While to be honest I thought it was ridiculous it be releasing it as a Disney movie, with all the subscriptions and attention it'll give Disney Plus, it's a much smarter idea to stream it. 

[Gorlois]

I wondered if this might happen. Disney’s been hurriedly pushing a lot of content onto Disney+ in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Why continue to sit on “Hamilton” when they could release it now to help retain current subscribers and earn new ones? Disney+ is just about the only thing they’ve got right now with the possibility of turning a profit.

Myself, I collect physical media so once I finished “The Imagineering Story,” I was done with Disney+. Since then, I’ve re-subscribed to watch Frozen II and Onward (and their Prop Culture or Prop History show is also a gem, I really recommend the first episode on Mary Poppins) but I’ve since let my subscription lapse again. Of course, now I’ll be re-subscribing July 3rd.

This news means “Hamilfilm” will never see a wide theatrical release, although maybe Disney will do a Fathom Events type thing when the pandemic is well and over. Hopefully, it still comes to home video— but so far, I don’t think anything exclusive or original to Disney+ has....

[theatretenor2]

Agreed that it makes more sense as a Disney+ stream. I just hope it's not a limited release on Disney+. I have a feeling it probably will be though.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

100% expected this. So excited!

Congrats to Disney+ for the crap load of the new members they are going to get over Hamilton. If Hamilton could easily be completed by next month, then what was the point of making the release next year?

[MollyJeanneMusic]

disneybroadwayfan22 said: "100% expected this. So excited!

Congrats to Disney+ for the crap load of the new members they are going to get over Hamilton. If Hamilton could easily be completed by next month, then what was the point of making the release next year?"

Lin has always said that he wanted as many people as possible to see the show live before he released the proshot - obviously that isn't a possibility now.  Also, with In the Heights being pushed back to at least next year, I'm sure he doesn't want the two releases competing.  Overall, the original announcement was a smart move, and now, given the new circumstances, so is this one.  I don't think people should have to wait for a pandemic to get accessible theatre, but that topic has caused more arguments on this board than the Tony Awards, so I'll leave it at that.

And needless to say, this is super exciting and I am freaking out right now. 

[RockStarNYC]

I think this presents the perfect opportunity for Disney+ to experiment with an idea...

A pay-per-view stream.

So, this is something that Disney does with their ESPN+ service where they sell premium events on a pay-per-view basis. A stream of a highly touted ongoing Broadway show definitely falls into this category. If Disney were to offer access to subscribers to this content for an additional fee, I have no doubt that people STILL wouldn't balk. As stated, the cheapest ticket for Hamilton still costs in the hundreds of dollars. Having people pay a fraction of that cost to see the original Broadway leads does not seem unrealistic and could open the door for more opportunities (such as this footage of Aladdin that was filmed in West End) to be used in such a manner.

[Jordan Catalano]

And also very smart to release it right before the Fourth of July, to make it even more of an event. Props to Disney, Lin and everyone involved in this decision.

But I also fear that, like “Newsies”, it’ll never get a BD release.

[BJR]

I, for one, did not see that coming!

I thought for sure after that huge bidding war Disney would want a theatrical release and all that box office. But I suppose it's now a huge driver for Disney+ subscriptions.

I wonder who pushed for this. Was it Lin since In the Heights was pushed next year, or Disney+ wanting to throw more coal in the furnace on Disney+?

I'm slightly bummed about not being able to watch this in a movie theater, I admit. It'll be the first time I've seen since that summer of '16 and it would've been fun to recreate that thrill. And at home, it's not quite the same. But really, hard to be disappointed by this!!

[gibsons2]

Wow, that $69 membership I bought back in March for my stay at home kids is paying off. So excited to see the film!

[trpguyy]

BJR said: "I wonder who pushed for this. Was it Lin since In the Heights was pushed next year, or Disney+ wanting to throw more coal in the furnace on Disney+?“

Probably the corporation that is losing tens of millions of dollars every day and needs to generate some revenue. 
 

 

[IAMREADING]

So exciting!!!! I have a free year of Disney+ because I have unlimited Verizon data but haven't watched much besides Encore! (was hoping to watch Lizzie McGuire.) If you have Verizon unlimited data or certain Fios services, you may be eligible as well. https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/disney-faqs/?AID=11552181&SID=at106619_a118544_m12_p46057_cUS&vendorid=CJM&PUBID=2190813&cjevent=ab68c164945611ea83ba04510a24060c

[schubox]

They could make it a "limited stream" or some such nonsense. But in today's world, once it's out there it's out there, so that would be kind of silly. I am more interested to see if anything was edited out, how it was shot, etc.

I've always wished they'd do a physical release for shows that have multiple camera tracks available. Like you can watch the whole show with a static camera showing the whole stage. Watch the show where it focuses on the ensemble or a particular character, etc. 

[BrodyFosse123]

[BrodyFosse123]

[theatretenor2]

RockStarNYC said: "I think this presents the perfect opportunity for Disney+ to experiment with an idea...

A pay-per-view stream.

So, this is something that Disney does with their ESPN+ service where they sell premium events on a pay-per-view basis. A stream of a highly touted ongoing Broadway show definitely falls into this category. If Disney were to offer access to subscribers to this content for an additional fee, I have no doubt that people STILL wouldn't balk. As stated, the cheapest ticket for Hamilton still costs in the hundreds of dollars. Having people pay a fraction of that cost to see the original Broadway leads does not seem unrealistic and could open the door for more opportunities (such as this footage of Aladdin that was filmed in West End) to be used in such a manner."

Shhh. Don't give them any ideas. :)

[BrodyFosse123]

Oh, you silly kids. This’ll be available everywhere after it airs. Even if it streams only once.

[everythingtaboo]

RockStarNYC said: "I think this presents the perfect opportunity for Disney+ to experiment with an idea...

A pay-per-view stream.

So, this is something that Disney does with their ESPN+ service where they sell premium events on a pay-per-view basis. A stream of a highly touted ongoing Broadway show definitely falls into this category. If Disney were to offer access to subscribers to this content for an additional fee, I have no doubt that people STILL wouldn't balk. As stated, the cheapest ticket for Hamilton still costs in the hundreds of dollars. Having people pay a fraction of that cost to see the original Broadway leads does not seem unrealistic and could open the door for more opportunities (such as this footage of Aladdin that was filmed in West End) to be used in such a manner."

I think any thought of paying for a "premium" service on top of the normal subscription wouldn't fly with a lot of people, especially with so many worldwide out of work. If anything, it's better to have people subscribe for a month of the service for it, then stick around to see what else is there and/or forget to unsubscribe, and they'll make up for any "premium" in the long run. 

[Kad]

disneybroadwayfan22 said: "100% expected this. So excited!

Congrats to Disney+ for the crap load of the new members they are going to get over Hamilton. If Hamilton could easily be completed by next month, then what was the point of making the release next year?"

Simply: there was no rush and they literally could afford to wait. Disney was churning out content across all mediums and Hamilton was selling out worldwide, and both were raking in the cash. 
 

But now? Hamilton is on hold indefinitely everywhere. Disney is widely reported to be hurting for revenue now that its resorts, theme parks, shows, and theater releases are shut down. People are now a captive audience with a hunger for new content. 

[Scarlet Leigh]

This is a fantastic move on their part. Not only does it look good on them with all these surprise releases they are putting on the service under the narrative of "You are stuck home so let us entertain you while you are there" but they are making up some of the the money are losing while still holding onto their blockbusters that will go into theatres when they reopen.

And that original 2021 date? It will stay and they will turn it into a Hamilton sing-along event and make money all over again.

[hannhannham]

I have to say I’m a bit bummed. Was really looking forward to watching this in a theater with a group of friends. Now I’ll be watching alone in my apartment on my tiny ass TV. not really the same experience I was hoping for. Oh well, happy for all those who have never seen Hamilton.

[hearthemsing22]

RockStarNYC said: "I think this presents the perfect opportunity for Disney+ to experiment with an idea...

A pay-per-view stream.

So, this is something that Disney does with their ESPN+ service where they sell premium events on a pay-per-view basis. A stream of a highly touted ongoing Broadway show definitely falls into this category. If Disney were to offer access to subscribers to this content for an additional fee, I have no doubt that people STILL wouldn't balk. As stated, the cheapest ticket for Hamilton still costs in the hundreds of dollars. Having people pay a fraction of that cost to see the original Broadway leads does not seem unrealistic and could open the door for more opportunities (such as this footage of Aladdin that was filmed in West End) to be used in such a manner."

So you mean like BroadwayHD? Shows are going to have an extremely hard time making money again after this. This just invites more people to record a show and that’s not going to help. Just saying. 

[dramamama611]

Don't follow your line of thinking at all.  

[jbroadway4]

I wonder what they’re going to do about some of the language in it.
Disney + recently cancelled the Lizzie McGuire reboot and even moved the Love, Simon TV show to Hulu because it was deemed as “too inappropriate” for their service. Interesting... ?