Will There Ever Be A Hamilton Sequel?

Hamilton has emerged as a bonafide hit, but the jury is still out whether or not the Broadway musical will ever get a sequel. Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and inspired by the 2004 biography titled Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, Hamilton told the story of the titular Founding Father through rap, hip hop, and R&B. The musical, which also starred Miranda as Alexander Hamilton, debuted off-Broadway in February 2015 before transferring to Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway later that year. A 2016 production was recorded that was used for a special viewing experience on Disney+. Not only did the musical find a resurgence of popularity through streaming, but Hamilton was also the most-watched title in July 2020 across all streaming platforms.

The musical follows Hamilton’s arrival to New York in 1776 as he becomes a key figure during the American Revolutionary War. After becoming George Washington’s right-hand man, Hamilton expands his political career, but he made a rival in Aaron Burr in the process. He eventually serves as the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States as his reputation takes a hit due to his affair with Maria Reynolds. The tension between Hamilton and Burr boils over, resulting in an illegal duel. The event marks the end of Hamilton’s life and Burr’s political career.

The Tony and Grammy Award winning musical was a massive hit during its original run. Though the original Hamilton cast has largely moved on to other projects, Miranda’s work remains incredibly popular. Disney+ gave a wider audience an opportunity to view the stage production, and now there’s increasing interest in the notion of a sequel. Could there be a possible follow-up to the hit musical? What are Miranda’s plans, and what would be its possible release date and story?

Will Lin-Manuel Miranda Make A Sequel To Hamilton?

A recording of Hamilton was originally planned for a theatrical release in October 2021. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Disney made a deal to fast-track the film version to debut on its streaming service over a year earlier than planned. Following the Disney+ release in July 2020, there have been no announced plans for any type of Hamilton sequel. Miranda hasn’t suggested any interest in a sequel to the award-winning hit, nor has Disney announced any plans. Sequels to stage productions are extremely rare, but Hamilton has gained a broader audience. Though it’s not out of the realm of possibility, it’s more likely Hamilton would get a full-blown film adaptation over a sequel — but even those chances are slim.

When A Hamilton Sequel Could Release

If a Hamilton sequel did come to fruition, it would take years before a release. Miranda read Chernow’s biography in 2008 before developing a rap about the Founding Father’s life the following year. He then spent six years writing an developing the original stage musical. In fact, it took a year just perfecting “My Shot” before the lyricist deemed it ready. If Miranda did develop a follow-up, it would be aimed more toward the backend of the decade, especially considering Miranda’s busy schedule.

What A Hamilton Sequel’s Story Would Be

Hamilton followed the titular figure’s life up to his death, so he would obviously be absent from a sequel. That said, there’s an opportunity to use historical figures like Thomas Jefferson or George Washington. That way the focus could remain on fellow Founding Fathers who were integral to the original musical. Another possibility would be to shift focus to the Schuyler Sisters to put more women in the front and center. If Miranda wanted to make another big splash, he could change to another era completely and tell the story of other important moments in U.S. history such as the civil rights movement.

What Is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Next Stage Musical?

According to a July 2020 interview with GQ, Miranda is working on a new stage musical, but he can’t share many details about the project. Other than that, the film adaptation of his musical In the Heights is set to premiere in 2021. The Hamilton alum will also be making his directorial debut with the musical Tick, Tick…Boom! in addition to working on The Little Mermaid, The Kingkiller Chronicles, and a Disney animated project titled Encanto.

About The Author

Kara Hedash
(1745 Articles Published)

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Kara Hedash is a features editor and writer for Screen Rant. From time to time, she dives into the world’s most popular franchises but Kara primarily focuses on evergreen topics. The fact that she gets to write about The Office regularly is like a dream come true. Before joining Screen Rant, Kara served as a contributor for Movie Pilot and had work published on The Mary Sue and Reel Honey. After graduating college, writing began as a part-time hobby for Kara but it quickly turned into a career. She loves binging a new series and watching movies ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to hidden indie gems. She also has a soft spot for horror ever since she started watching it at too young of an age. Her favorite Avenger is Thor and her favorite Disney princess is Leia Organa. When Kara’s not busy writing, you can find her doing yoga or hanging out with Gritty.

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