Vanity Fair has the exclusive first photos from Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story. They are certainly colorful, in more ways than one, if your main concern about this remake was the usual grayish color palette of Spielberg and cinematographer Janusz Kaminski.
Authenticity in casting is what differentiates this version, according to Spielberg. He tells VF:
“This story is not only a product of its time, but that time has returned, and it’s returned with a kind of social fury. I really wanted to tell you about the Puerto Rican, Nuyorican experience of basically the migration to this country and the struggle to make a living, and to have children, and to battle against the obstacles of xenophobia and racial prejudice.”
Spielberg tells Vanity Fair that most of the Puerto Rican characters in his West Side Story are played by actors “specifically Puerto Rican or of Puerto Rican descent.” Rita Moreno who won an Oscar as Anita in the original returns to this version as a new character Valentina, the owner of a neighborhood store. She also serves as an executive producer helping Spileberg and team ensure authenticity in storytelling with her perspective.
The film stars Ansel Elgort as Tony, newcomer Rachel Zegler as Maria and Broadway star Ariana DeBose in Moreno's old role. West Side Story is scheduled for release on December 18th. What do you think of the photos?