Ansel Elgort to Play Tony in Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ Remake

Ansel Elgort has been cast as Tony in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” remake, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.

Tony Kushner wrote the adaptation of the 1957 musical, originally written by Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim with music by Leonard Bernstein. Larry Kert played the role in the original Broadway production, while Richard Beymer took on the role in the 1961 film. “West Wide Story” explores forbidden love, as well as the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds in New York.

Spielberg will produce the upcoming film, along with Kevin McCollum and Kristie Macosko Krieger.

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Most recently, Elgort starred in “Baby Driver” for which he received a Golden Globe nomination in the category of Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy. His next project includes the upcoming film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize winning book, “The Goldfinch,” which will be released next October. Elgort is represented by CAA and manager Emily Gerson Saines.

Spielberg’s most recent projects include “The Post,” which starred Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, as well as “Ready Player One,” which was based on the popular sci-fi book by Ernest Cline.

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Filming on “West Side Story” will begin in the summer of 2019.

Read original story Ansel Elgort to Play Tony in Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ Remake At TheWrap