Corey Hawkins, who earned a Tony nomination in 2017 for his performance in the Broadway revival of Six Degrees of Separation, has joined the cast of the upcoming In the Heights movie. The actor, according to Deadline, will play Benny (originated onstage by Hamilton Tony nominee Christopher Jackson) in the Jon M. Chu-helmed film, based on the musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes.
Hawkins joins the previously speculated Anthony Ramos, who will take on the central role of Usnavi (initially played by Miranda himself). Ramos will reprise his performance on screen, having recently taken center stage in the Kennedy Center's 2018 semi-staged presentation of the musical.
The Warner Bros. project, featuring a screenplay by Hudes, is set to arrive in theatres June 26, 2020. Production is expected to begin this summer.
Prior to Six Degrees of Separation, Hawkins made his Broadway debut in the 2013 revival of Romeo and Juliet; he also appeared Off-Broadway in Hurt Village and Suicide, Incorporated. His film credits include Straight Outta Compton, BlacKkKlansman, and Kong: Skull Island.
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