Ben Plattis opening up about the making of theDear Evan Hansenfilm, explaining that the film adaptation of the 2016 Tony-winning Broadway show “probably” wouldn’t have made its way to the big screen had it not been for his involvement.
The 27-year-old actor — who originated the title role of Evan Hansen on Broadway to much critical acclaim (and a Tony award himself) — opened up about the projectduring an appearance on theZach Sang Showback in June.
In the chat, Platt responded to critics who questioned whetherhe was too old to play a high schooler after the release of the film’s first trailer.
“People like to have something to say that’s negative, regardless of what it is. With [this], it’s something that I can’t control at all, which is my age, then bring it on,” he said. “I’m glad it’s not about my performance or my voice or anything that actually matters.”
“The reaction is largely from people that don’t understand the context of the piece,” Ben said. “The fact that I created the role and workshopped it for 3 years, and did all of the out-of-town performances, and originated it on Broadway, and received the accolades that I did… and also not really understanding that were I not to do the movie, it probably wouldn’t get made.”
He added that, while he’d like to continuously defend himself online, he would rather just let people watch the film themselves.
“My defensive response is to go on Twitter and be like, “Eff you guys, you don’t even know that this wouldn’t exist without me,' " Ben said. “And of course, that’s not true entirely and that’s not my place to say.”
“All I have to do is let the work speak for itself,” he concluded. “Hopefully people will realize that this is engrained in me and there wasn’t really any question on anyone actually connected to the piece or who was actually a part of the film, there was never any kind of discussion that it wouldn’t be me.”
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While Platt reprised his role in the movie, he’s the only one from the stage production who did. Rachel Bay Jones and Mike Faist — who both also won Tonys for their roles — did not return, nor did original stars Jennifer Laura Thompson,, Laura Dreyfuss, Kristolyn Lloyd, Will Roland, and Michael Park.
Instead, the film will featureJulianne Moore,Amy Adams,Kaitlyn Dever,Amandla Stenberg, Colton Ryan, Danny Pino, and Nik Dodani (among others).
Ben Platt and Kaitlyn Dever inDear Evan Hansen.Courtesy NBCUniversal
Back in May, after the trailer’s release, Platt did acknowledge that he has gotten older since playing Evanin a since-deleted tweet.
“Thank you from the bottom of my [heart] for the outpouring of trailer love yesterday,” Platt wrote in the deleted tweet. “The film required me to revisit areas of personal pain, so seeing people excited & moved makes it so deeply worth it.”
He then linked to an interview he did withVanity Fair, writing, “P.S. to the randos being jerks about age, read this great article and/or watchGrease.”
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Dear Evan Hansenis only in theaters September 24.
source: people.com
