Dear Evan Hansen (film)

Universal Pictures purchased the film rights to the musical in November 2018, hiring Stephen Chbosky as director, and the writer of the musical Steven Levenson also set to write the screenplay for the film. Marc Platt and Adam Siegel will serve as producers, while the show's composers Pasek & Paul, will serve as executive producers alongside Levenson.[2]

In June 2020, Ben Platt, who originated the role of Evan Hansen on stage and is the son of producer Marc Platt, was expected to reprise his role for the film, and Kaitlyn Dever entered negotiations to star as Zoe Murphy as well.[3] On June 18, 2020, Ben Platt stated that as long as the COVID-19 pandemic allows for a film to be made in a timely manner, he will reprise his role unless he outgrows it.[4] In August 2020, Kaitlyn Dever was officially cast as Zoe Murphy and Amandla Stenberg joined the cast as Alana Beck, a role that has been expanded upon for the film. Stenberg will also collaborate with Pasek and Paul on the writing of a new song for her character.[5] That same month, Nik Dodani and Colton Ryan joined the cast of the film as Jared Kleinman and Connor Murphy, respectively, the latter of whom reprising the role in which he understudied on Broadway.[6] Near the end of that month, Amy Adams and Danny Pino joined the cast as Cynthia and Larry Murphy, the latter of whom was re-conceived for the film as their children's stepfather.[7] In September 2020, Julianne Moore and DeMarius Copes joined the cast of the film. Moore will play Heidi Hansen and Copes will make his film acting debut as Oliver, one of Zoe Murphy's friends and a new character created specifically for the film.[8] That same month, Gerald Caesar joined the cast of the film as Josh, one of the high school students.[9] In October 2020, Liz Kate joined the cast of the film in an undisclosed role.[10] In November 2020, Isaac Cole Powell joined the cast of the film, as Rhys, a high school jock.[11]

On August 25, 2020, Ben Platt confirmed that principal photography had begun.[12] It was shot in Los Angeles, California and Atlanta, Georgia, with primary filming with the main cast taking place in September and had been expected to end around Thanksgiving.[13] About making the film during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kaitlyn Dever said to Variety, "I'm very happy that we’re able to make something so special during such a strange and sad and confusing times ... I have gotten used to the 'doing nothing' part of my job, which is just sitting and waiting for something to happen. Now, I feel like I'm really geared up for this and ready to go."[14] Additional filming for the scenes at the High School, Ellison State Park and the Autumn Smile Apple Orchard/Connor Murphy Memorial Orchard took place in Fayetteville, Georgia. Blackhall Studios in Atlanta served as the COVID-19 testing site for the actors and crew members on set.[15] On December 15, 2020, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group chairwoman Donna Langley confirmed that the film will wrap production that month.[16]