Amanda Seyfried, Rachel Zegler and Tramell Tillman are set to join the cast of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s upcoming movie musical “Octet.”
Seyfried will play Jessica, Zegler will play Velma and Tillman is set to play Marvin. Joining them are Sheryl Lee Ralph ad Paula, Phillipa Soo as Karly, Gaten Matarazzo as Toby, Jonathan Groff as Henry, Tillman as Marvin and Paul-Jordan Jansen as Ed.
The story follows “eight internet-obsessed people who meet in a church basement and lock their phones in a box,” its synopsis reads. “The group of people are struggling with digital dependency, charting their compulsions using only the analog vibrancy of their own voices. With witty lyrics, shimmering harmonies and virtuosic solos, ‘Octet’ sings of connection, redemption, hope — and how we can be truly present with each other.”
The film marks Miranda’s second time directing a film; he helmed the film adaptation of “Tick, Tick… Boom!” in 2021.
When he announced the news earlier this month, Miranda shared, “I’ve been obsessed since I saw Annie Tippe’s production in November 2019, and working on adapting this with Dave for the past six years. Now we get to make the movie. And what a joy to officially partner with Julie Oh, my ride-or-die in the movie business since tick, tick…Boom! Thank you to everyone on our team at 5000 Broadway for their work in making this a reality.”
“Octet” is based on Dave Malloy‘s critically acclaimed musical. Directed by Annie Tippe, it opened off-Broadway on May 19, 2019, at the Signature Theatre in New York City, before ending its run on June 30. “Octet” had its West Coast premiere with a five-week run at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2022.
Producers include Julie Oh, 5000 Broadway Productions’ new head of TV and film, along with John Skidmore for Best Kept Secret Productions and 5000 Broadway Productions president Luis A. Miranda, Jr. Executive producers are Johnny Holland (“Friendship,” “Dumb Money”), Owen Panettieri and Diana DiMenna. The film is being financed and executive produced by Sander Jacobs, Caren Jacobs, TodayTix Group, Jeffrey Seller, Teresa Tsai and John Gore for Broadway.com.
Writer and composer Malloy is adapting his own book of the musical for the big screen and will also serve as executive producer.
