The release of Hamilton on Disney+ has led to a big increase in interest in the already beloved musical. That has meant a lot of positive attention for the cast.

1. NEWS
Why Hamilton's Leslie Odom Jr.
Almost Walked Out On The Movie
The release of Hamilton on Disney+ has led to a big increase in
interest in the already beloved musical. That has meant a lot of
positive attention for the cast of the lm, who originated the roles they
play on screen when Hamilton was on Broadway. But Leslie Odom Jr.,
who stars as Aaron Burr, almost chose not to participate, and nearly
walked away from the opportunity shortly before they began to shoot
the lm.
There is no Hamilton without Aaron Burr. He serves not only as the
lengthy story’s narrator but also ends up being the gure behind many
of the pivotal moments in the musical, including the murder of the
musical’s eponymous Founding Father. For those who’ve been fans of
the musical since it rst hit Broadway in 2015, it would have been
hard to picture anyone but Leslie Odom Jr. bringing him to life in the
Hamilton lm.
However, the Tony-winning actor found himself faced with a tough
decision when he and the rest of Hamilton’s original Broadway cast
were asked to participate in the lming of their stage performance for
the movie. He told the Armchair Expert Podcast that he wanted to
KATHERINE WEBB
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2. make sure he was being paid what he knew his participation was
worth:
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It sounds like the decision as to whether or not he would be a part of
the lm came down to the wire because Leslie Odom Jr. stood his
ground:
Leslie Odom Jr. did his research, too, so he could be sure that he was
being appropriately compensated for what would turn out to be one of
the most buzzed-about movies of 2020:
They came to me with an offer and you
know, ‘Leslie, we’re shooting tomorrow.’
Here's the thing: This is it. This is my area
of expertise. This is all I have. This is my
life's work on the stage, too. And so I just
can't sell it away for magic beans. I can't
give it away.
The day before we shot that movie I called
out. I was not kidding. I was not coming to
work the next day to do the movie. You
know, I was not kidding. It was a principle
for me and sometimes it doesn't work out.
Sometimes they look at you and go, 'We're
just not paying it,' and you have to go,
'That's OK.’
So I can ask CAA (Creative Artists Agency),
‘What does my white counterpart, what
does Aaron Tveit make to do Grease Live!
on TV? What does he make to do Grease?
This is Hamilton live, right? So when I

3. For Leslie Odom Jr., it sounds like the bottom line ended up working
out in his favor -- at least to the point that he was willing to sign on for
the Hamilton movie. That’s good news for fans, both new and old
alike, because it means we can enjoy his stunning performance for
years to come. It’s available to stream now on Disney+.
Up Next
The Next Time You Watch Hamilton, Pay Attention To
His Jackets
found out what he made, I didn't ask for a
penny more. I didn't ask for one penny
more, but I said, 'You must pay me exactly
what that white boy got to do Grease Live!’
That's the bottom line.
KATHERINE WEBB
V I E W P R O F I L E
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