More Info

distributor:

Twentieth Century Fox

production company:

Twentieth Century Fox , Amblin Entertainment

assistant director:

Adam Somner

producer:

Kristie Macosko Krieger , Kevin McCollum , Steven Spielberg

related movies:

West Side Story (1961)

main characters:

Anita , Tony , Maria , Bernardo , Riff , Chino , Rosalia , Polic Lieutenant Schrank , Police Sergeant Krupke , Valentina , Abe , Diesel

characters by:

Leonard Bernstein , Arthur Laurents

sfx supervisor:

Evan Pileri

premiere date:

December 10 2021

Synopsis

Two youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy. This is a remake of the 1961 musical classic, which won 10 Oscars.

This has been a passion project of Steven Spielberg's for years and started to gain traction in 2018 when he put out a casting call for the roles. Principal photography is expected to begin in summer 2019.

Directed by Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg, from a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award® winner Tony Kushner, “West Side Story” tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love in 1957 New York City. This reimagining of the beloved musical stars Ansel Elgort (Tony); Rachel Zegler (María); Ariana DeBose (Anita); David Alvarez (Bernardo); Mike Faist (Riff); Josh Andrés Rivera (Chino); Ana Isabelle (Rosalía); Corey Stoll (Lieutenant Schrank); Brian d’Arcy James (Officer Krupke); and Rita Moreno (as Valentina, who owns the corner store in which Tony works). Moreno – one of only three artists to be honored with Academy®, Emmy®, GRAMMY®, Tony® and Peabody Awards – also serves as one of the film’s executive producers.

Bringing together the best of both Broadway and Hollywood, the film’s creative team includes Kushner, who also serves as an executive producer; Tony Award® winner Justin Peck, who choreographed the musical numbers in the film; renowned Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor and GRAMMY Award® winner Gustavo Dudamel, who helmed the recording of the iconic score; Academy Award®-nominated composer and conductor David Newman (“Anastasia”), who arranged the score; Tony Award®-winning composer Jeanine Tesori (“Fun Home,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie”), who supervised the cast on vocals; and Grammy®-nominated music supervisor Matt Sullivan (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Chicago”), who served as executive music producer for the film. The film is produced by Spielberg, Academy Award®-nominated producer Kristie Macosko Krieger and Tony Award®-winning producer Kevin McCollum. “West Side Story” has been adapted for the screen from the original 1957 Broadway show, with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and concept, direction and choreography by Jerome Robbins.