There's Finally A Trailer For The "West Side Story" Remake
Something's coming and it's a brand new remake of West Side Story. After a successful Broadway revival back in 2009, the iconic musical will be back on the big screen with a new generation of actors and dancers behind it, including an up-and-coming actress who will be making her big debut as Maria. Legendary director Steven Speilberg will be leading the charge for the new project. Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the original film, is back as an executive producer.
As musicals continue to take over the box office, it's not surprising to hear that the iconic film is being remade almost 60 years after it first came out and became a cultural phenomenon. The original film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, taking home 10 of them, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress for Rita Moreno's performance.
The 2009 revival was also a big hit and was nominated for the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical. Since then, the show continues to be performed all around the world in professional productions and high school renditions alike.
So who will be stepping into the shoes of the iconic roles of Maria, Tony, and Anita? And will there be any changes from the original movie and musical? Here is everything you need to know about the West Side Story remake.
Is there a trailer?
An official teaser trailer for the film debuted at the Oscars in April 2021. In it, we see Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler in action as Tony and Maria.
Leading lady Rachel also posted a full trailer for the classic musical to her Instagram account on September 15, 2021. The announcement came after her first-ever Met Gala appeatance.
"This movie. this labor of love. two summers ago i had the opportunity to dance through the streets of manhattan and sing my heart out surrounded by friends who would become my family," Rachel wrote in her caption. "Our little group project is in theaters only december 10, 2021, and i hope you’ll come see the many beautiful folks making their film debut. we worked so hard. and with so much love in our hearts. come visit 1957 manhattan this december— we’ll be waiting. 🤍✨"
What is West Side Story about?
A retelling of the Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet, the musical follows Tony and Maria, two people connected with rival gangs in the city of New York in the 1950s. As the two fall in love and try to pursue a relationship together, their friends and family attempt keep them apart due to their different backgrounds and experiences.
Will there be any differences in this version?
Chances are the show will stay the same as past productions have stuck to the iconic Sharks vs. Jets storyline. With the 2009 revival, some Spanish dialogue was added including changing the song "I Feel Pretty" to "Me Siento Hermosa" and "A Boy Like That" to "Un Hombre Asi." The lyrics were translated by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.
It was previously reported that director Steven Spielberg was looking for Spanish speakers for the film, so it's likely some of the translations will stick for the film version.
Who is starring in West Side Story?
Rachel Zegler as Maria: This is the 20-year-old actress' first major role, and she had to go through multiple rounds of auditions to land the part. Maria works at a local bridal shop and is best friends with Anita and the Sharks.
Ansel Elgort as Tony: This will be Ansel's first musical role on the big screen. Tony is a member of the Jets, rivals to the Sharks. He ends up unexpectedly falling in love with Maria, despite growing up thinking that the Sharks did not belong in his city.
Ariana DeBose as Anita: She previously was involved in Bring It On, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Hamilton on Broadway and competed on the sixth season of So You Think You Can Dance. She is playing Maria's best friend who figures out that she is in a relationship with Tony. She tries to convince them to split apart and is currently dating Bernardo.
Are there any other big names that are joining the movie?
Maddie Ziegler is joining the cast as a Jets girl. The Dance Moms star and Sia dance collaborator will be playing an unnamed character who will be seen throughout the film. West Side Story will be her fifth movie after Music, which was created by Sia, is released later this year.
Mike Faist from Dear Evan Hansen and Newsies will play Riff in the movie, leading the Jets. Ana Isabelle will be playing one of Maria's friends, Rosalia. So You Think You Can Dance season 12 winner, Gaby Diaz, is also joining the ensemble and will be playing a Sharks girl.
Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the original film, will be back in a special new role that was remade for this version of the movie. She will be playing Valentina, the owner of the candy store that the Jets and Sharks frequently visit.
When is the film set to come out?
Filming for the West Side Story remake started in the summer of 2019. The film was originally set to be released in 2020 before the Coronavirus pandemic hit. Now, the official release date of the movie is December 10, 2021.
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