In his continuing attempt to load the cast of his new version of West Side Story with Puerto Rican and other Latinix performers, Steven Spielberg has locked in some of the young leads for the musical. Rachel Zegler will be Maria, with Ariana DeBose as Anita, David Alvarez as Bernardo and Josh Andrés Rivera as Chino.
Inspired by Romeo And Juliet, West Side Story re-sets the feuding families become as warring New York City gangs – the white Jets led by Riff and the Puerto Rican Sharks, led by Bernardo. Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. But when Riff's best friend (and former Jet) Tony and Bernardo's younger sister Maria meet at a dance, no one can do anything to stop their love. Maria and Tony begin meeting in secret, planning to run away. Ansel Elgort is on as Tony, while Rita Moreno, who won an Oscar for the 1961 original, will be Valentina, a re-conceived and expanded version of original corner store owner Doc, who employs Tony in a local store.
"When we began this process a year ago, we announced that we would cast the roles of Maria, Anita, Bernardo, Chino and the Sharks with Latina and Latino actors. I’m so happy that we’ve assembled a cast that reflects the astonishing depth of talent in America’s multifaceted Hispanic community," Spielberg tells Deadline. "I am in awe of the sheer force of the talent of these young performers, and I believe they’ll bring a new and electrifying energy to a magnificent musical that’s more relevant than ever." With Tony Kushner on script duty, the cameras should be rolling and the fingers clicking this summer.
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