Animated musical Vivo from Lin-Manuel Miranda set for December 2020

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

Is there anyone around who can touch Lin-Manuel Miranda? The man has won Tonys, has a hit album out now (THE HAMILTON MIXTAPE) and was nominated for a Golden Globe for his work on MOANA, which will probably lead to an Oscar nod. The man is clearly made of some magical, alien material that repels failure, so he will be bringing that invincibility to another project which will team him will the greatest of all superstars: an animated monkey.

News is that Sony Animation will be fast-tracking an animated movie from Miranda called VIVO, a story about a Capuchin monkey “with a thirst for adventure and a passion for music” who “makes a treacherous passage from Havana to Miami to fulfill his destiny.” The movie has been a passion project for the star, and will of course be a musical, given Miranda’s proclivity for whimsical tunes, and the maestro has already written 11 tunes for the movie because magic.

Miranda will be collaborating with Quiara Alegría Hudes on the script and whom he also worked on with his first hit stage production, IN THE HEIGHTS. As for a director the movie will be helmed by THE CROODS' Kirk De Micco. All of these fine folks will be working to get this movie out on the set date of December 18, 2020. Though the date is not currently occupied by any other film, chances are a massive tentpole film (a STAR WARS or AVATAR) could sneak its way in there in the future.

Though VIVO is a good three years away the project has actually been around for some time. It was originated by HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL’s Peter Barsocchini and was initially green lit by Dreamworks Animation almost six years ago when the studio wanted to work with Miranda, then was hot off his HEIGHTS success. But the film never surfaced as Dreamworks put their faith in karate-chopping pandas and colorful trolls, and now the movie is at Sony. Show business!

I’m not gonna be a dirty liar and say I’ve seen Miranda’s musical, HAMILTON, as I have yet to find a fanciful elderly couple to rob of their tickets, even though it would finally earn me respect among the other street toughs. However, the music in MOANA was sensational and hopefully Miranda can bring that same energy and life to VIVO, lifting Sony Animation above their lofty…uh…HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA heights.

MOANA is currently in theaters.