West Side Story (2020 film)

West Side Story is an upcoming 2020 American romantic musical drama film directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg, with a screenplay by Tony Kushner and choreography by Justin Peck. The film is an adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, which is based loosely on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.[3][4] The film's screenplay is expected to hew more closely to the Broadway script than to the 1961 film adaptation directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins.[5] It stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler as the film's leads, alongside Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, Corey Stoll and Brian d’Arcy James, as well as Rita Moreno, a star of the original 1961 film, appearing in a supporting role.

West Side Story
Teaser poster
Directed bySteven Spielberg
Produced by
Screenplay byTony Kushner
Based on Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare
Starring
Music by
CinematographyJanusz Kamiński
Edited by
Production
company
Distributed by20th Century Studios[1]
Release date
  • December 18, 2020 (2020-12-18) (United States)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$100 million[2]

Produced by Amblin Entertainment, West Side Story is scheduled to be released by 20th Century Studios[1] in the United States on December 18, 2020.[6][7]

Premise

Teenagers Tony and Maria, despite having affiliations with rival street gangs, the white Jets and Puerto Rican Sharks, fall in love in 1950s New York City.[5]

Cast

Jets
  • Kevin Csolak as Diesel
  • Ezra Menas as Anybodys
  • Ben Cook as Mouthpiece
  • Sean Harrison Jones as Action
  • Patrick Higgins as Baby John
  • Paloma Garcia-Lee as Graziella
  • Maddie Ziegler as Velma[10]

Sharks
  • Josh Andrés Rivera as Chino[8]
  • Ana Isabelle as Rosalia[8]
  • Julius Anthony Rubio as Quique
  • Ricardo Zayas as Chago
  • Sebastian Serra as Braulio
  • Carlos Sánchez Falú as Pipo

Production

Development

In March 2014, Steven Spielberg first expressed interest in directing a remake of West Side Story. This prompted 20th Century Fox to acquire the rights to the project.[11] Tony Kushner, who previously worked with Spielberg on 2005's Munich and 2012's Lincoln, revealed in a July 2017 interview that he was writing the screenplay for the film, stating he would be leaving the musical numbers intact, and that the story would be more similar to the original musical than to the 1961 film.[12][13] In a 2020 interview, Spielberg told Vanity Fair: "West Side Story was actually the first piece of popular music our family ever allowed into the home. I... fell completely in love with it as a kid."[14]

Pre-production

In January 2018, it was announced that Spielberg would likely direct the film following completion of filming for a fifth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise.[15] This was followed a few days later with an open casting call issued for the characters Maria, Tony, Anita and Bernardo.[16] Additional open casting calls were hosted in New York City in April, and in Orlando, Florida in May.[17] In July, the fifth Indiana Jones film was pushed back, allowing Spielberg to begin pre-production on West Side Story.[18]

Justin Peck was hired to choreograph the film in September 2018, with Ansel Elgort cast in the film as Tony.[19][20] In November, Eiza González emerged as a contender for the role of Anita.[21] Rita Moreno was cast as Valentina, a reworked version of the character Doc.[22] In January 2019, newcomer Rachel Zegler was cast in the lead role of Maria, with Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, and Josh Andrés Rivera also cast as Anita, Bernardo, and Chino, respectively.[23] In March 2019, Corey Stoll and Brian d'Arcy James joined the cast.[24] A month later, the rest of the ensemble comprising the Jets and Sharks factions was announced.[25]

Filming

Filming took place in Harlem and other Manhattan locations and in Flatlands, Brooklyn, in New York City in July 2019.[26] There were ten days of shooting in Paterson, New Jersey,[27] where an outdoor set was built, in August 2019.[28] Filming also took place in Newark and other parts of Essex County, New Jersey.[29][30] It wrapped on September 27, 2019.[31]

Music

Composer David Newman arranged and adapted Bernstein's original score for the film. Gustavo Dudamel, music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted the orchestra during the film's recording sessions, with Jeanine Tesori serving as vocal coach.[32]

Release

West Side Story is scheduled to be released in the United States on December 18, 2020 by 20th Century Studios.[6][1]

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References
  1. Vary, Adam (January 17, 2020). "Disney Drops Fox Name, Will Rebrand as 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures". Variety. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  2. Donnelly, Matt; Lang, Brent (August 13, 2019). "Fox Feels the Pressure From Disney as Film Flops Mount". Variety. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  3. "West Side Story remake by Steven Spielberg: 2020 UK release date, cast and soundtrack revealed", ClassicFM.com, June 19, 2019, accessed March 7, 2020
  4. Laurents, Arthur (2009). Mainly on directing: Gypsy, West Side Story, and other musicals. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. p. 349. ISBN 978-0-307-27088-7.
  5. Chi, Paul (October 23, 2018). "Steven Spielberg's West Side Story Will Go Back to Basics". Vanity Fair. New York City: Condé Nast. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  6. McPhee, Ryan (May 7, 2019). "New West Side Story Movie Sets December 2020 Release". Playbill. New York City: Playbill Inc.
  7. "The Walt Disney Studios | First Look at 'West Side Story'". The Walt Disney Sudios. June 17, 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  8. N'Duka, Amanda (2019-04-16). "Steven Spielberg's 'West Side Story' Sets Sharks/Jets Chorus Including Riff & Rosalia". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  9. Fierberg, Ruthie (April 16, 2019). "Tony Nominee Mike Faist, Paloma Garcia-Lee, Maddie Ziegler, More Join Steven Spielberg's West Side Story Movie". Playbill. New York City: Playbill, Inc.
  10. Sorren, Martha (July 1, 2019). "Melissa Ziegler Happily Left Fame Behind After Dance Moms". Woman's Day. New York City: Hearst Magazines.
  11. Fleming, Mike, Jr. (March 5, 2014). "Fox Revives West Side Story for Steven Spielberg as Town Ponders Stacey Snider Move and DreamWorks' Future". Deadline. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  12. Teeman, Tim (July 19, 2017). "Tony Kushner: Why I'm Writing a Play About Donald Trump". Daily Beast. New York City: IBT Media. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  13. Chi, Paul (October 23, 2018). "Steven Spielberg's West Side Story Will Go Back to Basics". Vanity Fair. New York City: Condé Nast.
  14. Breznican, Anthony (16 March 2020). "A First Look at Steven Spielberg's West Side Story". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  15. Fleming, Mike, Jr. (January 19, 2018). "Steven Spielberg Eyes Indiana Jones & 'West Side Story' Atop Next Directing Vehicles". Deadline. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  16. Kit, Borys (January 26, 2018). "Steven Spielberg Looks for Spanish-Speaking Actors for His 'West Side Story' Remake". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles, California: Eldridge Industries. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  17. "Steven Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY Remake Will Hold Open Call This Weekend in NYC!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  18. D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 10, 2018). "'Indiana Jones 5' Shifts To 2021, 'Mary Poppins Returns' Moves Up A Week & More Disney Release-Date Moves". Deadline. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  19. Evans, Greg (September 28, 2018). "Broadway's Justin Peck to Choreograph Steven Spielberg's West Side Story". Deadline. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  20. Kit, Borys (October 1, 2018). "Ansel Elgort to Star in Steven Spielberg's 'West Side Story'". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles, California: Eldridge Industries. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  21. "Spielberg's 'West Side Story' Remake Cast Might Add 'Baby Driver' Actress Eiza González". /Film. November 7, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  22. D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 27, 2018). "Rita Moreno Returns To 'West Side Story': EGOT Winner To Play The Role Of Valentina In Steven Spielberg's Remake". Deadline. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  23. D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 14, 2019). "Steven Spielberg's 'West Side Story' Finds Its Maria, Anita, Bernardo & Chino". Deadline. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  24. D'Allessandro, Anthony (March 19, 2019). "Corey Stoll & Brian d'Arcy James Join Steven Spielberg's 'West Side Story'". Deadline. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation.
  25. N'Duka, Amanda (April 16, 2019). "Steven Spielberg's 'West Side Story' Sets Sharks/Jets Chorus Including Riff & Rosalia". Deadline. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation.
  26. Yakas, Ben. "Video: West Side Story Fever Hits NYC as Steven Spielberg Films Around Town", Gothamist, July 30, 2019
  27. Beckerman, Jim. "West Side Story movie set going up in Paterson ahead of filming", North Jersey Record, July 3, 2019
  28. NJ.com, Amy Kuperinsky | NJ Advance Media for (August 7, 2019). "Spielberg's West Side Story is about to film in Paterson". nj.
  29. Kuperinsky, Amy "Spielberg's West Side Story headed to Newark as production readies Paterson set. Feel pretty yet?", NJ.com, August 2, 2019
  30. "Spielberg’s West Side Story continues filming in Essex County", News12.com, September 10, 2019
  31. Parker, Ryan "Spielberg's West Side Story Wraps, New Photos From Set Shared", The Hollywood Reporter, October 2, 2019; and Peck, Justin. "That’s a wrap, 9.27.2019", Instagram, September 27, 2019
  32. Culwell-Block, Logan (May 17, 2019). "Jeanine Tesori and Gustavo Dudamel Join Music Staff of Spielberg-Helmed West Side Story Movie". Playbill. New York City: Playbill, Inc.
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