Lin-Manuel Miranda Assembles All-Star Cast for ‘Octet’ Film Adaptation
Get ready to join the support group! Lin-Manuel Miranda has unveiled the impressive cast for his highly anticipated film adaptation of Dave Malloy’s acclaimed musical, Octet. This a cappella musical, which originally premiered Off-Broadway in 2019, explores the complexities of internet addiction through the stories of strangers connecting in an online support group.
Leading the ensemble are some of the brightest stars in theater and film. Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia!) will portray Jessica, while the Olivier Award-winning Rachel Zegler (Evita) steps into the role of Velma. Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary) is set to play Paula, alongside Phillipa Soo (Hamilton) as Karly. The cast is further bolstered by Tony winner Jonathan Groff (Merrily We Roll Along) as Henry, Emmy winner Tramell Tillman (Severance) as Marvin, Paul-Jordan Jansen (Sweeney Todd) as Ed, and the beloved Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things) as Toby.
The musical’s creator, Dave Malloy (known for Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812), is also writing the screenplay and will serve as an executive producer. He previously expressed his excitement, stating, “I am over the moon that Lin-Manuel is turning Octet into a movie! I was utterly gobsmacked by his work on tick, tick…BOOM!, and feel so honored to have such a beacon of the musical theatre world bring this piece into a new life.”
Miranda’s 5000 Broadway Productions is at the helm of the project. He shared his enduring fascination with the musical, saying, “I haven’t stopped thinking about Octet since I saw Annie Tippe’s premiere production in November of 2019. Dave Malloy’s score is versatile, brilliant, and grows more relevant with each passing year. It won’t leave me alone so here we are.”
The film’s production team includes John Skidmore for Best Kept Secret Productions, Luis Miranda, Johnny Holland, Owen Panettieri, and Diana DiMenna as executive producers. Financing and additional executive production are provided by Sander Jacobs, Caren Jacobs, TodayTix Group, Jeffrey Seller, Teresa Tsai, and John Gore for Broadway.com.
Octet promises a unique cinematic experience, blending the intimacy of a support group with the innovative soundscape of a cappella music. Fans of the original stage production, and newcomers alike, have much to anticipate. You can currently stream the original Off-Broadway cast album here.
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