In The Heights Film Taps Corey Hawkins to Play Benny

Corey Hawkins Romeo & Juliet Opening Night 2013

The Tony Award-winning musical In The Heights is headed to the big screen thanks to Warner Bros., And according to Deadline the Straight Outta Compton star Corey Hawkins has been cast in the role of Benny, a taxi driver who works for the father of the young lady he is in love with, Nina. As a college student at Stanford, Nina is considered “the one who made it out.” However, Nina’s father won’t accept Benny as his daughter’s boyfriend

Set in Washington Heights in NYC, In the Heights follows the lives of people who battle with helping their neighborhood in the midst of gentrification as well as dealing with their own issues while experiencing a blackout. It was previously announced that Anthony Ramos (Hamilton) would lead the film as the bodega owner Usnavi.

“In The Heights” will hit movie theaters June 26, 2020, with a script written by Quiara Alegría Hudes and directed by Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians)

Hawkins is a 2017 Tony Award nominee for his role in Six Degrees of Separation. The Julliard graduate also graced the Broadway stage Broadway in Romeo & Juliet alongside Condola Rashad and Orlando Bloom. He also was recently seen in Spike Lee‘s Oscar-nominated film BlacKkKlansman.