“Dear Evan Hansen,” the Tony-winning stage musical, is being adapted into a feature film. Universal has acquired the rights to develop the project for the screen, and Marc Pratt (“La La Land,” “Into the Woods”) will produce along with Adam Siegel, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
Stephen Chbosky, the director of “Wonder” and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” is also in early negotiations to direct “Dear Evan Hansen,” according to the individual. Steven Levenson, who wrote the original book for “Dear Evan Hansen,” will write the screenplay.
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who wrote the music and lyrics for the stage production, sold the rights to Universal. Pasek and Paul won an Oscar for Best Original Song for “City of Stars” from “La La Land.” And they’re also expected to be executive producers on the film, along with Levenson.
“Dear Evan Hansen” is the story of a high school senior with the titular name who has severe social anxiety and has trouble connecting with others and making friends. After the suicide of a classmate, Hansen gets caught in a lie that brings him closer to his classmate’s family.
The 2016 Broadway production was nominated for nine Tony awards and won six, including Best Musical and Best Score.
Platt has produced several musicals, including “La La Land” and “Into the Woods,” and is also the father of Ben Platt, who won the Tony award for his lead role in “Dear Evan Hansen” when it debuted on Broadway.
Levenson and Chbosky are repped by WME. Pasek, Paul and Levenson are repped by CAA.
Deadline was first to report.