I Guess We're Doing This
Note: This contains mild spoilers for Hamilton, and a few uses of profanity. (If such things concern you.)
With just a week and a half to go, the marketing machine — such as it is — for Disney is once again in full gear with their latest film.
I want to clarify something up here: I am a very big fan of Hamilton. I’ve listened to the original cast recording countless times, and I’ve seen a touring version of the show (though sadly not the original Broadway production). This information, of course, makes me one of millions of people. But the point here is: I am excited to see a filmed version of Hamilton, especially since it seems unlikely any more cinematic film adaptation to come would include the entire original cast.
But to reiterate something I’ve said before: I really don’t get Hamilton being from Walt Disney Pictures.
If you look at the Lin-Manuel Miranda show as being an idealized version of history (and in many aspects, it is), then sure, it fits as a Disney title. Disney loves nothing more than presenting an idealized version of history, of embracing legacies that may not be a full and truthful accounting of life.
But there’s only so much idealization in Hamilton, and only so much of it that’s family-friendly. As the preview notes, the film is rated PG-13. On one hand, this makes sense: since it’s a filmed version, there’s likely going to be no gore and only the suggestion of violence or sexual content. There’s just all those implications as well as profanity. Hamilton isn’t the equivalent of an episode of Deadwood, but it also has a number of occasions of “fuck”. If this movie arrives on Disney+ wholly uncensored, it will be the first film bearing the Walt Disney Pictures banner to include the word “motherfucking”.
Depending on your awareness of Hamilton, of course, you already know that. But that’s the point: there are going to be some people who have heard of this show without knowing its details. One of two things is bound to happen with this film: either the die-hard fans will be angry that it’s been censored (and you don’t have to search far to see people tweeting at Disney+ regarding such concerns), or families will be angry that Disney+ has something with profanity and a hero who cuckolds another man and then pays that man to continue sleeping with his wife. (If you have not seen Hamilton, well, I warned you up top about spoilers.)
I love Hamilton. I do. But it’s really not appropriate for Disney+. One way or another, we’re probably going to have that conversation on a wider level in a few weeks.