Kenny Ortega Reaches New ‘Heights’

For his next project, Kenny Ortega will continue the grand tradition of bringing Broadway to the big screen.

The famed director of musical sensations including Michael Jackson’s “This Is It,” and the “High School Musical” series, will be helming the film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical “In The Heights,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

This is the first project the director has announced since his abrupt departure from Paramount’s “Footloose” remake.

“In The Heights,” which won the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical, focuses on the Dominican-American New York City neighborhood of Washington Heights and features hip-hop, salsa, meringue and soul music.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, who starred in and composed the musical, will star and produce in Universal’s adaptation. The playwright, Quiara Alegria Hudes, will write the script.

The announcement comes as Kenny’s previous film, “This Is It,” reached the $252 million mark worldwide.