Amandla Stenberg is a member of the cast of Universal Pictures Dear Evan Hansen, based on the original play with music and lyrics by Academy Award-winning duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
Stenberg will play Alana, a high school senior whose cheerful facade and social media envelope mask a deeper loneliness and isolation, and whose reaction to the death of a classmate ignites a movement. The role has been restored and expanded for the film, with Stenberg singing a new original song that has been expressively composed for the film. She writes the song in collaboration with Pasek and Paul.
Steven Levenson, who wrote the book for the stage’s musical, wrote the script. Stephen Chbosky will direct. Marc Platt (La La Land) and Adam Siegel will produce for their Universal-based Marc Platt Productions.
Universal’s Vice President of Production Sara Scott and Director of Development Lexi Barta will oversee production on behalf of the studio.
Best known for her star who takes turns in adapting The Hate U Give,Stenberg was recently seen as the daughter of Andre Holland in the Netflix series, The Eddy. Other recent credits include Everything, Everything en The Hunger Games.
Stenberg is represented by UTA and Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano.
