The upcoming In the Heights movie has found its Vanessa and Nina. Melissa Barrera and Leslie Grace will take on the respective roles in the screen adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes’ Tony-winning musical.
Miranda shared the casting update on Twitter, noting that production will begin—on location uptown—in the summer.
As previously reported, the Jon M. Chu-directed movie will also feature Hamilton alum Anthony Ramos as Usnavi and Tony nominee Corey Hawkins as Benny. The Warner Bros. project, featuring a screenplay by Hudes, is set to arrive in theatres June 26, 2020.
Barrera is best known for her performances on the Mexican telenovelas Siempre Tuya Acapulco and Tanto Amor (she also performs the theme song for the latter with Kalimba). Bronx-born Grace is a three-time Latin Grammy nominee, earning nods for for the single "Como Duele el Silencio," the album Lloviendo Estrellas, and her 2013 self-titled release, which appeared in the top five on Billboard's Latin Albums and Tropical Albums charts.
