Universal Pictures has acquired the screen rights to the award winning musical, In the Heights to turn it into a feature film. The hugely successful musical debuted on Broadway in March 2008 and has already won four Tony Awards this year including Best Musical, Best Choreography, Best Orchestration and Best Original Score.It also had a Best Actor nomination for Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Miranda, 28, wrote the music and lyrics for In the Heights and he currently stars in the production. In the Heights is the story of three generations coming together to create an identity for themselves in New York’s famous Washington Heights neighborhood. It is a journey of self discovery and hope through  salsa, hip-hop and soul music.

The original Broadway producers, Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller and Jill Furman will executive produce the film with Miranda as producer. Quiara Alegria Hudes, who wrote the Tony nominated book for the musical, will write the screenplay.