Dear Evan Hansen movie will have new songs and a rewritten ending

The Dear Evan Hansen movie will feature new songs and a rewritten ending.

The hit stage show will make the leap to the big screen later this year with Ben Platt reprising his Tony-winning titular role.

And in a new interview with the Daily Telegraph, Platt has shared some details about what changes the movie will see.

Four songs from the stage version – Anybody Have A Map, To Break In A Glove, Good For You and Disappear – have all been cut.

But there will be two new songs from The Greatest Showman songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the first called Anonymous Ones performed by Amandla Stenberg’s character Alana.

Platt teases of the new track: “There are so many people who seem perfectly well adjusted, but they’re struggling with the same mental health issues everyone else is.”

The second will be performed by Colton Ryan as Connor at the conclusion of the film.

Platt says that the updated ending will see Evan held more to account for his actions, explaining: “We see this kid do all these things and tell all these lies in real time, so we need to see the redemption and the forgiveness and the repentance.

“Watching Evan do the work to figure out who Connor was and heal the family in a much healthier, more removed way, and see him take a breath and heal outside of the trauma he’s experienced, is really, really effective.”

Meanwhile Platt revealed that the singing in the film was recorded live on set much like the Les Misérables movie.

“I didn’t want there to be such a shift from scene to a song that it felt canned or fantastical. I really like that a lot of the singing is a bit unpolished or raw,” he said.

The Dear Evan Hansen movie is currently due for release on 11 October in the UK and 24 September in the US.

About the author: Rachel Wise

UK based freelancer journalist Rachel contributes regularly to Stageberry with features and interviews from the hottest new shows and stage stars.

 

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