Film version of 'Dear Evan Hansen' trailer debuts online

One of Broadway’s biggest hit musicals in recent years, “Dear Evan Hansen,” is headed to the big screen. And the first-look trailer debuted Tuesday.

Tony-award winner Ben Platt reprises his role as an introverted teen who finds friends and fame through a lie.

Despite now being 27, Platt’s casting as the high school senior was something the film’s director, Pittsburgh native Stephen Chbosky, believes will be overlooked once audiences catch Platt’s performance.

“You just have to hear him sing the songs,” Chbosky recently told Vanity Fair. “His understanding of the character is so complete and so profound. I couldn’t imagine anybody else playing it. It’s his part. I felt very strongly about it. And to me it was never even a consideration.”

Chbosky, who grew up in Upper St. Clair, returned home in 2011 to film “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.”

In the story, Evan’s therapist suggests the teen write positive letters to himself. When one of Evan’s letters is stolen by a classmate who ends up committing suicide with the stolen letter in his pocket, Evan gets caught up pretending the dead teen was a close friend and garners accolades for an inspirational speech about the teen.

The musical, which opened in December 2016 at Broadway’s Music Box Theatre, was penned by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who also composed songs for “The Greatest Showman” and “La La Land.” In addition to Platt’s win, “Dear Evan Hansen” picked up six Tony Awards, including best musical and best score.

Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, Kaitlyn Dever and Amandla Stenberg also star in the film.

The movie is set to hit theaters Sept. 24.