About Hamilton: History Has Its Eyes on You

"Hamilton: History Has Its Eyes on You" is a 2020 American documentary film released on Disney+. The documentary is a deep dive into the creation and significance of the Broadway musical phenomenon, "Hamilton". The film serves as an exploration of the musical's impact on culture, politics, and education, told through interviews with the cast and creators, including Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda, director Thomas Kail, and historians.

Making / Production

The documentary was produced by RadicalMedia and directed by Thomas Kail. The content of the film is primarily a discussion panel hosted by Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts, where the original cast and creators share the journey of making the smash-hit Broadway show "Hamilton". The documentary also attempts to explore historical facts and addresses many of the questions and controversies related to the portrayal of historical events in the musical.

Actors

• Lin-Manuel Miranda - Creator of "Hamilton", he plays Alexander Hamilton, the protagonist. His deep understanding and portrayal of this revolutionary character brought the figure of Alexander Hamilton to life for a new generation.
• Leslie Odom Jr. – He plays Aaron Burr, Hamilton's lifelong rival. His powerful performance provided a layered portrayal of a complex historical figure.
• Christopher Jackson – He takes on the role of George Washington, mirroring the stoicism and dignity associated with the first President of the United States.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The documentary was released on July 10, 2020, almost exactly five years after the musical's Broadway premiere on July 13, 2015.
• The interview features original cast members who had not performed together since they left the show in 2016.

Quotes

• "History is not inevitable"— Lin-Manuel Miranda
• "Art gets to tell all the tales, and what an amazing tale this is"— Robin Roberts

Music, Soundtrack

• The background score of the documentary is filled with tunes from the original "Hamilton" soundtrack, adding a sense of familiarity and continuity for fans of the musical.
• The documentary ends with a performance of the song "History Has Its Eyes on You" from the musical.