There’s been this persistent rumor, for many weeks now, that Rachel Zegler is set to star in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Octet,” an adaptation of the Broadway musical.
Today, Miranda confirmed “Octet,” but release dates and casting will only be announced later. If I were a betting man, I’d go with Zegler having one of the lead roles. Just sayin’.
“Octet” is an a cappella musical centered on eight internet-obsessed people who meet in a church basement, lock their phones in a box, and share their struggles with digital dependency. The show premiered Off-Broadway in 2019, winning numerous prestigious prizes. Composer/lyricist Dave Malloy will adapt his own show for the screen.
“Octet” will mark Miranda’s second film as a director. The creator of “Hamilton” and “In the Heights” made his film directorial debut with 2021’s “tick, tick… BOOM!” starring Andrew Garfield.
As for Zegler, if she has indeed landed a role in “Octet,” and with the “Snow White” drama behind her, it would be immense for her career in an industry that’s tried to shun her since that misbegotten Disney movie and her puzzling actions before its release.
Zegler recently shot the small indie “She Gets It From Me,” starring Marisa Tomei, which has yet to find US distribution. It is currently being shopped around by Embankment.
If the “Octet” role comes to fruition, Zegler’s career might not go through its Melissa Barrera phase. The latter had similar issues, dealing with severe backlash, being fired from the ‘Scream’ franchise for speaking her mind politically, and earning the wrath of media and Hollywood. She’s since starred in peculiar projects, including Renny Harlin’s latest (co-starring with John Travolta).
A few months ago, Disney basically blamed the “Snow White” bombing on Zegler’s off-set behavior. Disney needed a scapegoat, and Zegler was the most obvious target. The Mouse House did the exact same thing to “The Marvels” director Nia DaCosta right after her film bombed, leaking to the trades about her inexperienced behavior on and off-set.
Now, whether Zegler deserved the full blame for “Snow White” is not for me to say, but she certainly didn’t help. A Variety report, filled with anonymous sources, most likely Disney-connected, painted Zegler as irresponsible and erratic in behavior during the promotion of “Snow White.”
Why is “Octet” a good fit for Zegler? Well, she launched her film career with a breakout performance in a musical, Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” (2021), earning a Golden Globe Award and widespread recognition. She went on to appear in major studio productions such as “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” and “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” followed by a highly publicized role in Disney’s upcoming live-action “Snow White.”