Disney division 20th Century Fox on Monday released a first look at Steven Spielberg’s new film adaptation of the classic musical “West Side Story,” with Ansel Elgort and newcomer Rachel Zegler front and center as star-crossed young lovers Tony and Maria.
Spielberg just began production on the film from a script by Tony Kushner.
The film, about rival street gangs in 1950s New York City, has been adapted for the screen from the original 1957 Broadway musical, which was written by Arthur Laurents with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and concept, direction and choreography by Jerome Robbins. Tony winner Justin Peck will choreograph the musical numbers in the film.
Pictured left to right (above) 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).
The cast also includes Ariana DeBose (Anita); Ana Isabelle (Rosalia); Corey Stoll (Lieutenant Schrank); Brian d’Arcy James (Officer Krupke); Curtiss Cook (Abe) and Oscar winner Rita Moreno, who plays Valentina and also serves as one of the film’s executive producers.
Spielberg also produces along with Kevin McCollum and Kristie Macosko Krieger.
The film’s music team includes conductor Gustavo Dudamel, who will helm the recording of Bernstein’s iconic score; David Newman (“Anastasia”), who will be arranging the score for the new adaptation; composer Jeanine Tesori (Broadway’s “Fun Home”), who will be working with the cast on vocals; and music supervisor Matt Sullivan (“Chicago”), who will serve as executive music producer for the film.
“West Side Story” is due in theaters Dec. 18, 2020.