The film adaptation of Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen has just announced an addition to their cast and it's Amandla Stenberg of The Hunger Games franchise fame!

Stenberg will star in the film as Alana Beck, one of the titular character's classmates. It was also reported that her role will be expanded and she will be singing a new original song composed expressly for the film. Lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who wrote the music for the Broadway show, will collaborate with Stenberg on the new song.

If you think she looks familiar, you may have seen her more recently featured in films such as Everything, Everything and The Hate U Give.



Dear Evan Hansen is a stage musical with music and lyrics by Pasek and Paul, and book by Steven Levenson. It follows high schooler Evan Hansen who has social anxiety who gets caught up in a lie after the family of a classmate who committed suicide mistakes one of Evan’s letters for their son’s suicide note. The musical went on to win 6 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Score.

The feature film rights were acquired by Universal in late 2018 with Steven Levenson attached to write the script and Stephen Chbosky (Wonder) directing. It will be produced by Marc Platt (La La Land) and Adam Siegel for their Universal-based Marc Platt Productions.

Ben Platt, who originated the role and won a Tony for his performance, has been expected to reprise the title role but this has yet to be officially confirmed. Fingers crossed while we wait for more updates!