Everything to Know About Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ Remake: Cast, Release Date and More

Credit: Ramona Rosales/Twentieth Century Fox

Everything to Know About Steven Spielberg's 'West Side Story' Remake: Cast, Release Date and More

Something's coming! Ever since Steven Spielberg first floated the idea, his West Side Story adaptation has been a hot topic in Hollywood. The famed director initially expressed his hopes to recreate Stephen Sondheim classic for the big screen in March 2014, leading 20th Century Fox to pick up the rights to the project. Three years later, Tony Kushner revealed he was teaming up with Spielberg for the third time to write the movie's screenplay. (They previously worked together on 2005's Munich and 2012's Lincoln.) It wasn't until mid-2018 that the movie really started to gain momentum. Open casting calls were held in New York City and Orlando to find the perfect fits for the main characters: Maria, Tony, Anita and Bernardo. In January 2019, newcomer Rachel Zegler joined Ansel Elgort as the Maria to his Tony. For the New Jersey native, the starring role is a dream come true in more ways than one. [jwplayer Sz96PUQj-zhNYySv2] "[It's] a beautiful display of Latin joy and the way that young Latin girls deserve to see themselves—dancing around in pretty dresses and singing about loving themselves," she told Vogue in November 2020. "It's something that's mattered so much to me, being Latina [and] singing 'I Feel Pretty' and meaning it. I hope that young people everywhere will know that their features are gorgeous and their culture is beautiful. I think that's what it's meant to my family. They know that it's going to happen." The latest interpretation of the Broadway staple was filmed in New York City in the summer of 2019. It wrapped that September and was initially set for a December 2020 release, but the coronavirus pandemic forced the date to be pushed back to the following year. Though it wasn't originally the plan, West Side Story's December 2021 premiere will coincide with the 60th anniversary of the 1961 film. Rita Moreno, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Anita in the original movie, is ready for the world to see the magical remake. She returns to the West Side Story world in a new role — and it's more than just a cameo. "To be there, when Steven is giving you directions, and Steven is jumping around like a child with his finder, saying, 'Rita, look at this. What do you think of this shot?'" she told Variety in early 2021. "He's so enthused and happy — what a joy to work with this man. The sets will blow you away. You will really believe you're in el barrio. It's just astonishing." Scroll down for everything to know so far about the 2021 version of West Side Story: [podcast_block]

Credit: Niko Tavernise/Twentieth Century Fox

When It's Out

The movie hits theaters on December 10, 2021. In the official trailer, which dropped in September 2021, fans heard their first taste of Zegler's vocals. 

Credit: Niko Tavernise/Twentieth Century Fox

The Leads

Elgort was cast as Tony in late 2018, with Zegler later announced as playing his love interest. The characters are star-crossed lovers from rival gangs in the musical twist of Romeo and Juliet. 

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The Sharks

Tony nominee David Alvarez makes his film debut as Bernardo, Maria's older brother and the leader of The Sharks. His girlfriend, Anita, is played by Hamilton's Ariana DeBose, with Josh Andrés Rivera as Bernardo's BFF Chino.

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The Jets

Fighting for street cred on the opposite side of the tracks are Mike Faist, who plays Jets leader Riff, and Maddie Ziegler. The Dance Moms alum nabbed the role of Velma, Riff's girlfriend.

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The Team

Spielberg produced and directed the project, tapping New York City Ballet wunderkind Justin Peck to choreograph the movie musical. Kushner, who received a Pulitzer Prize for his play Angels in America, penned the screenplay.

Credit: Niko Tavernise/Twentieth Century Fox

The O.G.

Moreno, an EGOT winner, returns to the world of West Side Story in a brand-new role created just for her. Instead of Anita, she plays Valentina, the widow of local drugstore owner Doc. When the first look at the film aired during the 2021 Oscars, Moreno was heard singing the iconic track "Somewhere."

Credit: Niko Tavernise/Twentieth Century Fox

A Teaser

The 20th Century Studios production shared a minute-long video via YouTube of Spielberg toasting the crew ahead of taping and a brief clip of Elgort and Zegler as Tony and Mary, respectively, hoping to “run away” together.

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No Subtitles

Spielberg chose not to use subtitles during scenes with Spanish dialogue, calling it “disrespectful” to include them.

"I don't know if anybody really questioned it, I don't remember anybody saying you've got to subtitle it," he told Digital Spy in December 2021. "I felt that subtitling the Spanish was disrespectful to the second language of this country. It would make English the dominant language because then there would be two being spoken: the English by the characters speaking and the English that would [be written] underneath the spoken Spanish words. It was out of complete respect to give dignity where dignity is earned and deserved to be given.”