The First Look at Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ Arrives
The classic musical West Side Story is getting a 21st century update (or at least a 21st century version — the setting and time period will remain) from director Steven Spielberg,. Although the movie doesn’t open in theaters for almost a year and a half, the first photo from the film, featuring the new cast, was just unveiled.
Here’s exactly who’s in the picture. Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler play the leads, Tony and Maria, at the center of the photo:
Pictured left to right are: Jets members Anybodys (Ezra Menas), Mouthpiece (Ben Cook), Action (Sean Harrison Jones); Jets leader Riff (Mike Faist); Baby John (Patrick Higgins); Tony (Ansel Elgort) and Maria (Rachel Zegler); Maria’s brother and Sharks leader Bernardo (David Alvarez); and Sharks members Quique (Julius Anthony Rubio), Chago (Ricardo Zayas), Chino (Josh Andrés Rivera), Braulio (Sebastian Serra) and Pipo (Carlos Sánchez Falú).
Spielberg has assembled an impressive team around him to adapt the musical, including Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright (and Lincoln screenwriter) Tony Kushner, and choreographer Justin Peck, who was the subject of the fascinating documentary Ballet 422. I also love the casting of Brian d’Arcy James as Officer Krupke and Corey Stoll as Lieutenant Schrank. Based on the picture, the cast, and the creative team, it’s clear West Side Story is about as high-end as movie musicals get these days.
West Side Story opens in theaters on December 18, 2020.
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