Lauryn Hill will star as the gang leader Cyrus in a new musical adaptation of the 1979 cult film The Warriors, set to release as a concept album on October 18. The project, spearheaded by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and playwright Eisa Davis, reimagines the iconic street gang movie with an all-female Warriors cast. The album, titled Warriors, offers a bold take on the original story while incorporating elements of unity and peace within a chaotic, action-packed narrative.

Miranda, whose deep connection to The Warriors dates back to childhood, said the idea of adapting the film into a musical was first suggested to him in 2009. Initially dismissing the notion, the idea lingered. After completing his groundbreaking run in Hamilton, Miranda found himself returning to the idea. “It was in there already, raising its hand,” he said. He reached out to Davis, a longtime friend from Broadway, to collaborate. While Miranda had watched the film countless times, Davis had never seen it, which provided a fresh perspective as they began writing together.

Rather than bringing the story straight to the stage, Miranda and Davis opted to release Warriors as a concept album. Miranda cited the influence of classic musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar and Hadestown, both of which began as albums before being staged. “There’s a wonderful tradition of musicals that began as concept albums,” he said, adding that the format allowed them to explore musical storytelling in a more flexible and creative way. By recording the album, they could blend music and action in ways that might be more difficult to achieve in a traditional stage production.

A key shift in the adaptation was the decision to make the Warriors an all-female gang, a move that Miranda said “complicates the narrative in a really compelling way.” The shift reflects contemporary issues of gender and power, particularly in the digital age. Davis pointed out that the plot now centers on a group of women falsely accused and forced to fight for survival. “What is it that you do when no one believes you?” Davis said, highlighting the added layers of tension and resilience this gender swap brings to the story.

Securing Lauryn Hill as Cyrus, the peace-seeking leader who is assassinated, was a pivotal moment for the project. Davis described Hill as the embodiment of authority and influence, noting her ability to command attention through her music and activism. “There was no plan B,” Davis said. Miranda, who had admired Hill for years, reached out to her team, and after a year of back-and-forth, the collaboration came together. Hill’s voice now defines the role of Cyrus, elevating the album’s vision of peace amidst chaos.

While the creators have no immediate plans for a film adaptation, the door remains open for a stage production. Miranda emphasized that the goal of the concept album was to let listeners create the story in their minds. “We made our musical love letter to the movie that already exists,” he said. If a stage adaptation follows, it would be a natural evolution of the work—but for now, the focus is on letting the music tell the story.