Amandla Stenberg Cast in DEAR EVAN HANSEN Film

[perfectliar]

Amandla Stenberg cast as Alana. Her character has been expanded for the film and will get a new song, which Stenberg is co-writing with Pasek & Paul.

https://deadline.com/2020/08/universals-dear-evan-hansen-the-hate-you-give-amanda-stenberg-1203015188/

[Alex Kulak2]

Props to Marc Platt for casting one person who won't be 30 when the film is released, I guess...

I'm wondering what they can really do to expand Alana's part. A lot of her story is told in the subtext of the show, how her after-school activities and peppy attitude is a facade to hide that she's completely friendless. It's a subtle thing in the stage show that's a really nice contrast against Evan's arc. I'm really worried they're just going to rip out all the subtlety and give Alana a song about how lonely she is.

[Jordan Catalano]

I’m thrilled that Stephen Chbosky is directing this. He made my favorite film of the past decade, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”. If there’s one director out there right now that can handle this subject matter, it’s him.

[Jordan Catalano]

And why would Alana’s part be expanded? There’s zero reason to do that.

[Alex Kulak2]

Not just that, he wrote the original novel it was based on, back in the 90s. He’s clearly got experience writing about mental health from a teen perspective. I’m just worried the producers are going to cater to the very young, very loud section of the fanbase...

[CATSNYrevival]

Alana is annoying enough as it is.

[Sutton Ross]

They better get the de-ager ready to go, this movie won't come out for years. 

[Sampatches]

She’s basically more exposition than actual character so it’s nice that they’re giving her more to do in plot

[bwayboy22]

Sutton Ross said: "They better get the de-ager ready to go, this movie won't come out for years."

They’re going into production sooner than you might think.

[Sutton Ross]

When exactly? Because it's been a go for almost two years now and nothing happened. I doubt anything will happen this year.

[BwayLB]

Should be interesting. Because Alana is one of few characters that lacked a proper closure. We don't even know what happened to her after the truth of Evan's lies came out.

[Alex Kulak2]

I like to think she got what Evan thought she wanted (fodder for college application essays) but not what she really wanted (meaningful connection with another person).

[Call_me_jorge]

They could probably easily shoot this film social distanced. Many of the scenes are over the phone or through text/email.

[LizzieCurry]

Are they going to secretly film in New Zealand?

[Valentina3]

Call_me_jorge said: "They could probably easily shoot this film social distanced. Many of the scenes are over the phone or through text/email."

Jorge. No. That's not how filming works.

[Sutton Ross]

[Call_me_jorge]

Valentina3 said: "Call_me_jorge said: "They could probably easily shoot this film social distanced. Many of the scenes are over the phone or through text/email."

Jorge. No. That's not how filming works."

I’m not implying they’ll only show the screen of those messages for the film. I’m saying it’s easy to separate cast members due to the fact much of the shows dialogue is not in person. Also, they could probably easily have the actors film themselves for those sequences. There is already precedence of remote filming with the upcoming television show Love in the Time of Corona. It’s possible. I’m not saying they will do it this way, but they very well could.

[BroadwayNYC2]

A reality show isn’t a film. Cast members couldn’t light themselves and film. They won’t do this and there’s no point speculating.

[perfectliar]

BroadwayNYC2 said: "A reality show isn’t a film. Cast members couldn’t light themselves and film. They won’t do this and there’s no point speculating. "

Love in the Time of Corina is not a reality show. Several television shows and films have been filmed remotely, though (Host is currently getting a ton of press for it) with cast members lighting themselves and using the specific conceit of "this is a film/show that takes place on the internet so it should look like we're regular people sitting in front of our devices."

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

I'm just gonna pipe in here and say Dear Evan Hansen gives the one person of color a really one note character so if they expand her character in the film it will be for the better. 

[Call_me_jorge]

BroadwayNYC2 said: "A reality show isn’t a film. Cast members couldn’t light themselves and film. They won’t do this and there’s no point speculating. "

What reality show did I mention in my post?

[Tag]

So judging by Jorge's track record today, expect an announcement that this film will be remotely shot by the performers themselves 

[Alex Kulak2]

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "I'm just gonna pipe in here and say Dear Evan Hansen gives the one person of color a really one note character so if they expand her character in the film it will be for the better."

Neither the dialogue nor the published libretto mentions the race of any of the characters.

[Sampatches]

Alex Kulak2 said: "rattleNwoolypenguin said: "I'm just gonna pipe in here and say Dear Evan Hansen gives the one person of color a really one note character so if they expand her character in the film it will be for the better."

Neither the dialogue nor the published libretto mentions the race of any of the characters."

While that is true everyone was white or white passing in the original production at Arena in DC. Second Stage was the one to push to diversify the show before bringing it to NYC in casting Kristolyn Lloyd as Alana instead of brining Alexis Molnar along with the rest of the original cast.