Lin-Manuel Miranda has announced that his next directorial effort will be a film adaptation of Dave Malloy’s a cappella musical Octet. The production deals with internet addiction and will mark Malloy’s second major musical film project.

Lin-Manuel Miranda is set to direct the screen adaptation of Octet, the 2019 chamber musical by Dave Malloy. The story explores the lives of eight people grappling with internet addiction, who come together in a church basement meeting to seek recovery under the guidance of a mysterious leader.

Malloy, who is adapting his own book and score for the film, previously received acclaim for his adaptation of tick, tick… Boom! The casting and further details for Octet’s film version are yet to be announced.

The original Octet musical has not yet been performed in the UK, and it remains to be seen whether it will arrive on British stages before the film is released. Malloy’s wider body of work includes Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Ghost Quartet, Preludes, The Witches, and Moby Dick.

Set against a modern backdrop, Octet’s exploration of internet addiction taps into contemporary concerns about digital dependency. This project continues a recent trend of musical theatre works transitioning to film under the stewardship of celebrated creators like Miranda.

Both Miranda and Malloy bring substantial theatrical and musical credentials to the collaboration, promising a distinctive adaptation of the innovative a cappella piece. Further announcements regarding casting and production timelines are expected in due course.