'Come From Away' is getting the 'Hamilton' film treatment

(Matthew Murphy)

It was announced today that Entertainment One is set to produce and finance a live filming of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Come From Away.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, “the Broadway cast will reprise their roles in the live capture set for May 2021, ahead of a planned September 2021 release. Come From Away tells the true story of 7,000 passengers stranded after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in a small town in Newfoundland, where they were housed and welcomed.”

“Come From Away is a triumphant story about the power of humanity in the face of incredible darkness," Nick Meyer, eOne’s president, film, said in a statement. The production will shoot in the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in New York City where the Broadway production of Come From Away is staged.

eOne acquired the rights to Come From Away in 2017, with plans as a movie adaptation. Alchemy Production Group will instead now oversee the live filming of the musical for eOne, having earlier completed filmed versions of Hamilton for Disney+ and David Byrne’s American Utopia for HBO. It is not known yet if Come From Away will be released on a specific streaming network.

Given the success of Hamilton on the Disney streaming service, it’s no surprise that more properties would be going this route. Also, with potential awards eligibilities, that further incentivizes producers to leap from stage to screen.

Christopher Ashley, who directed the Broadway production, will helm the live filming version. Sankoff and Hein will serve as executive producers alongside RadicalMedia’s Jon Kamen, Dave Sirulnick and Meredith Bennett.

Jennifer Todd and Bill Condon will produce alongside the original stage play producers, Junkyard Dog Productions, as well as Gordon.

Brittany Hapner will serve as a co-producer.