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Tag: in the heights

Every Jon M. Chu Directed Movie, Ranked!

Jon M. Chu accepts the award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement at the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 5, 2025, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The success of last year’s ‘Wicked‘ has made Jon M. Chu one of the most popular directors in Hollywood and earned him a Critics Choice Award for Best Director.
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Before ‘Wicked’, Chu was best known for directing sequels like ‘Step Up 2: The Streets‘, ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation‘, and ‘Now You See Me 2‘, two Justin Bieber documentaries, and the box office smash ‘Crazy Rich Asians‘.

Chu now returns to the big screen with the highly antcipated sequel to ‘Wicked’ entitled ‘Wicked: For Good‘, which once again stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and opens in theaters on November 21st.

In honor of the new sequel, Moviefone is counting down every film Jon M. Chu has ever directed, including his latest.

Let’s begin!

Related Article: Jon M. Chu Talks ‘Wicked’ Digital Release and the Success of the Film

11. ‘Jem and the Holograms‘ (2015)

A scene from 2015’s ‘Jem and the Holograms’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

As a small-town girl (Aubrey Shea) catapults from underground video sensation to global superstar, she and her three sisters begin a one-in-a-million journey of discovering that some talents are too special to keep hidden. Four aspiring musicians will take the world by storm when they see that the key to creating your own destiny lies in finding your own voice.
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10. ‘Step Up 2: The Streets‘ (2008)

A scene from 2008’s ‘Step Up 2: The Streets’. Photo: Walt Disney Studios.

When rebellious street dancer Andie (Briana Evigan) lands at the elite Maryland School of the Arts, she finds herself fighting to fit in while also trying to hold onto her old life. When she joins forces with the schools hottest dancer, Chase (Robert Hoffman), to form a crew of classmate outcasts to compete in Baltimore s underground dance battle The Streets.
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9. ‘Justin Bieber’s Believe‘ (2013)

Justin Bieber in ‘Justin Bieber’s Believe’. Photo: Open Road Films.

A backstage and on-stage look at Justin Bieber during his rise to super stardom.
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8. ‘Justin Bieber: Never Say Never‘ (2011)

Justin Bieber in ‘Justin Bieber: Never Say Never’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Tells the story of Justin Bieber, the kid from Canada with the hair, the smile and the voice: It chronicles his unprecedented rise to fame, all the way from busking in the streets of Stratford, Canada to putting videos on YouTube to selling out Madison Square Garden in New York as the headline act during the ‘My World Tour’ from 2010.
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7. ‘Step Up 3D‘ (2010)

A scene from 2010’s ‘Step Up 3D’. Photo: Walt Disney Studios.

A tight-knit group of New York City street dancers, including Luke (Rick Malambri) and Natalie (Sharni Vinson), team up with NYU freshman Moose (Adam Sevani), and find themselves pitted against the world’s best hip hop dancers in a high-stakes showdown that will change their lives forever.
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6. ‘Now You See Me 2‘ (2016)

(L to R) Jesse Eisenberg, Lizzy Caplan, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco and Mark Ruffalo in ‘Now You See Me 2’. Photo: Lionsgate.

One year after outwitting the FBI and winning the public’s adulation with their mind-bending spectacles, the Four Horsemen (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco and Lizzy Caplan) resurface only to find themselves face to face with a new enemy who enlists them to pull off their most dangerous heist yet.
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5. ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation‘ (2013)

(L to R) Ray Park and Dwayne Johnson in ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Framed for crimes against the country, the G.I. Joe team is terminated by Presidential order. This forces the G.I. Joes into not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence. Starring Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis.
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4. ‘In the Heights‘ (2021)

(Center) Anthony Ramos in ‘In the Heights’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

Lights up on Washington Heights… The scent of a cafecito caliente hangs in the air just outside the 181st Street subway stop, where a kaleidoscope of dreams rallies this vibrant and tight-knit community. At the intersection of it all is the likeable, magnetic bodega owner Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), who saves every penny from his daily grind as he hopes, imagines and sings about a better life.
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3. ‘Wicked: For Good‘ (2025)

Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked For Good’, directed by Jon M. Chu.

As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) will need to come together one final time. With their singular friendship now the fulcrum of their futures, they will need to truly see each other, with honesty and empathy, if they are to change themselves, and all of Oz, for good.
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2. ‘Crazy Rich Asians‘ (2018)

(L to R) Henry Golding and Constance Wu in ‘Crazy Roch Asians’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

An American-born Chinese economics professor (Constance Wu) accompanies her boyfriend (Henry Golding) to Singapore for his best friend’s wedding, only to get thrust into the lives of Asia’s rich and famous.
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1. ‘Wicked‘ (2024)

Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.

In the land of Oz, ostracized and misunderstood green-skinned Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is forced to share a room with the popular aristocrat Glinda (Ariana Grande) at Shiz University, and the two’s unlikely friendship is tested as they begin to fulfill their respective destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
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November 22, 2025
Anthony Ramos Joins ‘Ironheart’

(L to R) Lady Gaga and Anthony Ramos in ‘A Star is Born’

The last few years have been monumental in the career of Anthony Ramos. He’s enjoyed success on stage and screen and now, to add to it all, he’s joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

To be completely accurate, he’s joining the Disney+ TV section of the MCU, landing a role in ‘Ironheart’.

With Chinaka Hodge as head writer, ‘Ironheart’ will follow the adventures of genius teen inventor Riri Williams, who creates the most advanced armor suit since Iron Man. She made her comics debut in 2015 from creators Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato and has quickly become popular. Though her storyline in the comics involves Tony Stark, that will naturally have to change for the MCU version.
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Disney announced that a series based on the character among many revelations at last May’s investor day.

Dominique Thorne, seen in Barry Jenkins’ ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ and last year’s ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ is playing Williams. And if current rumors hold, we’ll first meet her character in Ryan Coogler’s superhero sequel ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’, due to arrive in theaters on November 11th this year.

‘Ironheart’ doesn’t yet have a set release date; given that it hasn’t started filming yet and with the schedule for the ‘Panther’ sequel, it’s unlikely we’ll see the show screens before next year.

And, in true Marvel fashion, Ramos’ character is a mystery for now. But while he’s only in the small screen branch of the MCU, as we’ve seen from other series, that is no bar to eventually showing up in theaters. And you’ve got to think that hiring a rising star like Ramos means Marvel has plans. Deadline’s report even mentions comparisons of the role to that of ‘Loki’s Jonathan Majors, who is bringing his villainous Kang to ‘Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ to start with.

Ramos has been on something of a roll in the last few years – he was part of the original cast for Broadway sensation ‘Hamilton’ (which itself saw screens in 2020 via Disney+) and, while he’d been working in movies for some time before, had his big break in 2018’s ‘A Star is Born’.

Since then, he’s also shown up in ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ and took the lead in last year’s ‘In the Heights’, also based on a musical by ‘Hamilton’ creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. He’s certainly got the charm and the chops to be able to hang with other MCU characters.

The young actor’s future is busy – in addition to this latest job, he’s worked on the latest live-action ‘Transformers’ movie, ‘Rise of the Beasts’ (due on June 9 next year) and voices Mr. Piranha in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘The Bad Guys’, in theaters on April 22.
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February 9, 2022
Lin-Manuel Miranda Announces, Yes, He Will be in the ‘In the Heights’ Movie

Disney

The latest addition to the film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s Broadway hit “In the Heights” … Lin-Manuel Miranda!

The show’s creator, who’s been sharing the latest casting news via Twitter, just tweeted today that he will in the movie after all.

He tweeted, “See you on set.” and “One last bit of casting. [Rolls piragua cart on set…]”#InTheHeightsMovie

He’s playing the bit part of Piragüero, whom EW describes as “the owner of a piragua (Puerto Rican shaved ice dessert) stand who Mister Softee is trying to shut down.”

Miranda wrote and starred in the original musical as Usnavi, but in the film that role will be played by Anthony Ramos, the actor who originated the dual roles of John Laurens and Phillip Hamilton in Miranda’s other Broadway hit, “Hamilton.”

The movie, directed by Jon Chu of “Crazy Rich Asians,” will arrive in theaters on June 26, 2020.

[Via Slashfilm, EW]

June 14, 2019
‘In the Heights’ Movie Adds Marc Anthony in ‘Pivotal’ Role

Picturehouse

Lin-Manuel Miranda couldn’t keep it to himself anymore: Marc Anthony has joined the movie adaptation of “In the Heights.”

Anthony, a Grammy winner multiple times over, has taken on what Miranda described on Twitter as a “brief but pivotal role.” It’s as the father of the young barrio jokester Sonny (Gregory Diaz). That makes him the uncle of bodega owner Usnavi (Anthony Ramos).

“In the Heights” is based on the Tony-winning musical of the same name that began its Broadway run in 2008. It centers characters living in Washington Heights, a predominately Latino neighborhood in New York City. Miranda wrote it with Quiara Alegria Hudes, and the two are producing with Scott Sanders, Anthony Bregman, and Mara Jacobs. The film’s executive producers are Jill Furman, Kevin McCollum, and Jeffrey Seller.

Miranda shared that he “still can’t believe” Anthony has joined the film. The singer is primarily known for his successful music career, but he has had a number of film and TV roles as well. He starred in 2006’s “El Cantante” and 2001’s “In the Time of the Butterflies” and was also a regular in the TV series “Hawthorne.”

Production on “In the Heights” kicked off earlier this month. The film is scheduled to open June 26, 2020.

[via: Lin-Manuel Miranda/Twitter; h/t: THR]

June 6, 2019
Stephanie Beatriz, More Stars Join ‘In the Heights’

Fox

Warner Bros.’ adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s Broadway musical “In the Heights” just added three more stars: Stephanie Beatriz (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), Tony nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega, and Dascha Polanco (“Orange Is the New Black”).

The movie is set in New York’s Washington Heights. It’s about bodega owner Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), who debates whether to close his store and retire to the Dominican Republic after inheriting his grandmother’s fortune. In 2008, it won the Tony Award for best musical.

Rubin-Vega will play Daniela, the dramatic owner of the neighborhood salon and Beatriz will play Carla, one of her employees. Polanco will play Cuca, a character who’s apparently been added for the film.

Corey Hawkins (“Straight Outta Compton”) has already been cast as Benny and Jimmy Smits will play cab company owner Kevin Rosario. Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians“) is directing.

Beatriz currently stars as Detective Rosa Diaz on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” Her films include “Short Term 12” and “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.”

Daphne Rubin-Vega, ‘Jack Goes Boating’

Rubin-Vega originated the role of Mimi Marquez in the Broadway musical “Rent.” She also appeared on NBC’s “Smash” and in the Philip Seymour Hoffman-directed film “Jack Goes Boating” and the 1998 thriller “Wild Things.”

Dascha Polanco, ‘Orange is the New Black’

Polanco starred as Dayanara Diaz on six seasons of Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black” and also appeared in Netflix’s “Russian Doll.”

[Via THR]

April 16, 2019
‘A Star Is Born’ Actor Anthony Ramos to Star in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘In the Heights’ Movie

Warner Bros.

Fresh off appearing in the hit “A Star Is Born,” Anthony Ramos is ready for his next big act.

Ramos is in talks to star in the film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical “In the Heights,” according to Variety. The two have worked together before — Ramos originated the roles of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in Miranda’s blockbuster musical “Hamilton.”

“In the Heights” — which won the 2008 Tony for Best Musical — centers on the residents of Washington Heights, an Upper Manhattan neighborhood that is largely Latino but is experiencing gentrification. Characters include a bodega owner, a taxi driver, a beauty salon worker, a college student, and an elderly woman who all face personal crises during a summer blackout.

Miranda wrote the music and lyrics and portrayed the lead role of Usnavi. He then went on to create and star in “Hamilton.”

Quiara Alegría Hudes is writing the script and Crazy Rich Asians” filmmaker Jon M. Chu will direct. Miranda will serve as a producer. The movie is slated for release June 26, 2020.

After playing Lady Gaga’s best friend in “A Star Is Born,” Ramos can next be seen in next year’s “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” and in the upcoming second season of Netflix’s “She’s Gotta Have It.”

October 11, 2018