West Side Story is an American musical film directed by Steven Spielberg, set for release in 2021. It is a new adaptation of the music West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents, created in 1957 and itself based on Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.
The music had already been adapted for cinema in 1961byJerome Robbins and Robert Wise; this new version is intended to be closer to the original work.
The theme of the movie is taken from the Upper West Side, the 1950s. Two groups of young people clash: on the one hand the Sharks - led by Bernardo - and on the other the Jets, with the Riff at their head. Tony, linked to the Jets, is going to fall in love with Maria, Bernardo's sister.
Wiki / Info |
|
Original title |
West Side Story |
Director |
Steven Spielberg |
Screenplay |
Tony Kushner, based on the musical West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) and Arthur Laurents (libretto) |
Artistic direction |
Deborah Jensen |
Sets |
Adam Stockhausen |
Costumes |
Paul Tazewell |
Photography |
Janusz Kamiński |
Editing |
Michael Kahn |
Music |
Leonard Bernstein and David Newman |
Production |
Kristie Macosko Krieger, Kevin McCollum and Steven Spielberg; Rita Moreno (executive producer) |
Production companies |
20th Century Studios and Amblin Entertainment |
Distribution companies |
Walt Disney Studios Distribution |
Budget |
$ 100,000,000 (100 million) |
Country of origin |
United States |
Original language |
English |
Format |
Color |
Genre |
Musical, Romance |
Release date |
United States - December 10, 2021 |
Actor |
Role as |
Ansel Elgort |
Tony |
Rachel Zegler |
Maria |
Rita Moreno |
Valentina |
Ariana DeBose |
Anita |
David Alvarez |
Bernardo |
Corey Stoll |
Lieutenant Schrank |
Brian d'Arcy James |
Sergeant Krupke |
Mike Faist |
Riff |
Curtiss Cook |
Abe |
Ben Cook |
Mouthpiece |
Ana Isabelle |
Rosalia |
Steven Spielberg first expresses his wish to re-adapt West Side Story inMarch 2014. He asks 20th Century Fox to acquire the rights. Tony Kushner, who previously collaborated with the director for Munich (2005) and Lincoln (2012), reveals in July 2017that he will write the script for the film, specifying that he will keep the musical scenes and that the plot will be closer to the original musical rather than the 1961 film.
In January 2018, it was announced that film will be directed by Steven Spielberg after the fifth film in the Indiana Jones franchise. However, this project was postponed. The director then begins the pre-production of West Side Story.
Justin Peck is hired as a choreographer in September 2018, while Ansel Elgort is cast for the lead male role, Tony. In November 2018, Eiza González is announced for the role of Anita. Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the 1961 film, joins the cast as Valentina, a reworked version of the Doc.
In January 2019, the unknown Rachel Zegler was formalized in the role of Maria, while Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez and Josh Andrés Rivera are confirmed in the respective roles of Anita, Bernardo and Chino. In March 2019, Corey Stoll and Brian d'Arcy James joined the cast.
The shooting begins June 17, 2019, in New York and northern New Jersey until September 27 Steven Spielberg posts a letter announcing the end of filming.
David Newman was hired for the soundtrack of the film, including arranging the music for Leonard Bernstein for the 1961 film. Gustavo Dudamel, of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, was then hired to lead the recording sessions, while Jeanine Tesori is the vocal coach.
The output of West Side Story was originally scheduled for December 18, 2020, in the USA. However, in September 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the date is postponed to December 10, 2021, by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
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