Universal’s film adaptation of the acclaimed Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen” is now scheduled for theatrical release on September 24 of this year. Ben Platt will be reprising his role as the title character, which garnered him a Tony award. He will be backed up by a cast that includes Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, and Amandla Stenberg.

The Broadway offering, created by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, narrated the inner world of a high school student dealing with the suicide of his classmate, Connor Murphy.

But there’s a twist, as one of Hansen’s letters to his late friend is mistaken for a suicide note.

The announcement by Universal reassures an industry already jittery by the fact that many films have been delayed or rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic. It’s believed by some insiders that “Dear Evan Hansen” has a strong chance of being released in September as planned, due to Universal’s deal with AMC and Cinemark for a video-on-demand rollout.

According to Rebecca Rubin at Variety.com, “Under the pact, the studio can debut new movies on home entertainment after 17 days without fear that major theater circuits will boycott.”

The filmic version of “Dear Evan Hansen” is being directed by Stephen Chbosky from a script by Steven Levenson, author of the original book for the Broadway production, which opened to critical acclaim in December of 2016, taking home six Tony awards, including one for best musical. The original cast album also won a Grammy.

Releasing “Dear Even Hansen” during September’s back-to-school season could be interpreted as a sign that Universal is looking forward to some degree of normalcy after a year or more of chaotic rescheduling due to the pandemic. That same week will also see the release of Searchlight’s “The Eyes of Tammy Fae” and Warner Bros’ “The Many Saints of Newark.