In the Heights to Become Feature Film

Hot off the heels of the summer blockbuster, Mamma Mia!, Universal will add another Broadway musical to its film roster.

The company has just acquired the rights to this year's Tony Award winning musical, In the Heights, Broadway.com announced. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who created the show as well as wrote the score and stars in it, is expected to play his character, Usnavi, in the film version.

In the Heights tells the story of the lives inhabiting the area of Washington Heights in New York City. It officially opened on Broadway on March 9 of this year and won four Tonys, including Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations, Best Original Score (won by Miranda), and Best Musical.

Quiara Alegria Hudes, who wrote the show's book, is writing the film's screenplay. The show's producers on Broadway, Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller and Jill Furman, are set to executive produce the film as well, while Miranda will serve as a producer.

The idea to make In the Heights a movie came after Mamma Mia! made $558.8 million worldwide this summer at the box office and became the highest-grossing movie musical in history.