West Side Story (2021, D: Spielberg)
#27
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
re: West Side Story (2021, D: Spielberg)
He seems too slight and sensitive based on Dear Evan Hansen and Pitch Perfect, but it's not like I've seen enough of him to dismiss it out of hand. Get him a personal trainer and some dance lessons and who knows. He's not a star, but he's getting pretty well known, is the right age and sings and acts really well. Way better choice for the male lead than an unknown.
I still don't think Eddie Redmayne was a good choice for Marius in Les Miz but he made it work.
I still don't think Eddie Redmayne was a good choice for Marius in Les Miz but he made it work.
#29
DVD Talk Legend
re: West Side Story (2021, D: Spielberg)
Don't be messin' with the classics!
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#30
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
re: West Side Story (2021, D: Spielberg)
I've said this before here : Movies are different than Broadway. People don't go to live-action movie musicals to watch actors sing. They go to watch MOVIE STARS sing. Casting unknowns will be a huge mistake here, and possibly in Aladdin as well.
The movie musicals that were hits had stars in the leads - Chicago, Les Miz, Beauty and the Beast, Mama Mia, La La Land and Greatest Showman all had bankable stars. You put in unknowns (or barely knowns) and you end up with Rent, Jersey Boys or Phantom of the Opera -- bombs.
The movie musicals that were hits had stars in the leads - Chicago, Les Miz, Beauty and the Beast, Mama Mia, La La Land and Greatest Showman all had bankable stars. You put in unknowns (or barely knowns) and you end up with Rent, Jersey Boys or Phantom of the Opera -- bombs.
#31
re: West Side Story (2021, D: Spielberg)
If Spielberg sets the film in Never Never Land, it could work:
[to the tune of "The Jet Song."]
"When you are lost, you are one of the boys, from your first cigarette to your last bit of noise..."
[to the tune of "America"'
"I like to be in Never Never Land, okay by me in Never Never Land..."
[to the tune of "Gee, Officer Krupke"]
"Gee, Captain Hook, we're very upset;
We never had the love that ev'ry child oughta get..."
[to the tune of "The Jet Song."]
"When you are lost, you are one of the boys, from your first cigarette to your last bit of noise..."
[to the tune of "America"'
"I like to be in Never Never Land, okay by me in Never Never Land..."
[to the tune of "Gee, Officer Krupke"]
"Gee, Captain Hook, we're very upset;
We never had the love that ev'ry child oughta get..."
Last edited by Ash Ketchum; 02-01-18 at 01:15 PM.
#33
#35
#36
Moderator
Thread Starter
re: West Side Story (2021, D: Spielberg)
Maybe Moana...?
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#37
Moderator
Thread Starter
re: West Side Story (2021, D: Spielberg)
Ansel Elgort to Star in Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’
https://variety.com/2018/film/news/a...rg-1202964116/
https://variety.com/2018/film/news/a...rg-1202964116/
#38
Moderator
Thread Starter
re: West Side Story (2021, D: Spielberg)
EXCLUSIVE: After winning a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for playing the role of Anita in 1961’s West Side Story, EGOT winner Rita Moreno will return to the next big-screen adaptation of the Leonard Bernstein-Stephen Sondheim lyric musical that Oscar winner Steven Spielberg is directing. In addition, Moreno will also be an executive producer of the film.
In the new West Side Story, Moreno will be playing Valentina, a reconceived and expanded version of the character of Doc, the owner of the corner store in which Tony works. Filming for West Side Story is set to begin in the summer of 2019.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I see myself revisiting this seminal work,” says Moreno. “And to be asked by Steven Spielberg to participate is simply thrilling! Then to work together with the brilliant playwright, Tony Kushner – what a glorious stew! I am tingling!”
In the original movie, Moreno’s Anita Palacio is the the girlfriend of Bernardo who is the head of the Puerto Rican gang The Sharks. Bernardo’s younger sister Maria, who is also a best friend of Anita, falls for Tony, who is the co-founder of the American gang The Jets. They, of course, are squaring off with a big fight with The Sharks. Moreno’s Anita sings such signature tunes from the musical as “America” and the “Tonight Quintet”.
“From our earliest discussions, we wanted to include Rita Moreno in our production,” says Steven Spielberg. “Her Anita is one of the greatest musical performances ever filmed, and a personal favorite of mine. We created an original role for her, and we feel beyond fortunate that Rita will bring her extraordinary gifts as an actress, as well as her deep understanding of ‘West Side Story’ to this production as an executive producer.”
At the beginning of the month news broke that Warner Bros.’ feature adaptation of Tony-winning musical In the Heights was interested in casting Moreno. However, talks never occurred between the actress’ reps and the studio. For quite some time, Moreno has been in consideration for Spielberg’s West Side Story. In sum, a bidding war for the award-winning actress never occurred here from what we know.
Oscar-nominated screenwriter and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner (who worked with Spielberg on Lincoln) has written the adaptation of the 1957 musical, originally written by Arthur Laurents with music by Bernstein, lyrics by Sondheim and concept, direction and choreography by Jerome Robbins. Spielberg, Kevin McCollum and Kristie Macosko Krieger will produce the film musical, which will be released by Twentieth Century Fox.
Moreno is one of 15 people to achieve EGOT status, having won two Emmys, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony. She currently stars in the critically-acclaimed Latino remake of Norman Lear’s classic sitcom, One Day at a Time, on Netflix. Other notable acting work includes roles in the films Singin’ in the Rain and Carnal Knowledge, as well as a long-running stint on the children’s television program The Electric Company, an Emmy-winning appearance on The Muppet Show and a role on HBO’s Oz.
In addition to her EGOT awards, Moreno has won various lifetime achievement awards – including the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award and a Kennedy Center Honor – as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Recently, Moreno has appeared in guest-starring roles on TV series such as Getting On, Jane The Virgin, and Grace and Frankie.
Spielberg’s most recent projects include the two-time Best Picture Oscar-nominated The Post, a political drama inspired by the Washington Post’s first female publisher, Katharine Graham (Meryl Streep), and its driven editor, Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks), and Ready Player One based on Ernest Cline’s popular YA sci-fi novel which has grossed close to $600M at the global box office.
Moreno is repped by Innovative Artists.
In the new West Side Story, Moreno will be playing Valentina, a reconceived and expanded version of the character of Doc, the owner of the corner store in which Tony works. Filming for West Side Story is set to begin in the summer of 2019.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I see myself revisiting this seminal work,” says Moreno. “And to be asked by Steven Spielberg to participate is simply thrilling! Then to work together with the brilliant playwright, Tony Kushner – what a glorious stew! I am tingling!”
In the original movie, Moreno’s Anita Palacio is the the girlfriend of Bernardo who is the head of the Puerto Rican gang The Sharks. Bernardo’s younger sister Maria, who is also a best friend of Anita, falls for Tony, who is the co-founder of the American gang The Jets. They, of course, are squaring off with a big fight with The Sharks. Moreno’s Anita sings such signature tunes from the musical as “America” and the “Tonight Quintet”.
“From our earliest discussions, we wanted to include Rita Moreno in our production,” says Steven Spielberg. “Her Anita is one of the greatest musical performances ever filmed, and a personal favorite of mine. We created an original role for her, and we feel beyond fortunate that Rita will bring her extraordinary gifts as an actress, as well as her deep understanding of ‘West Side Story’ to this production as an executive producer.”
At the beginning of the month news broke that Warner Bros.’ feature adaptation of Tony-winning musical In the Heights was interested in casting Moreno. However, talks never occurred between the actress’ reps and the studio. For quite some time, Moreno has been in consideration for Spielberg’s West Side Story. In sum, a bidding war for the award-winning actress never occurred here from what we know.
Oscar-nominated screenwriter and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner (who worked with Spielberg on Lincoln) has written the adaptation of the 1957 musical, originally written by Arthur Laurents with music by Bernstein, lyrics by Sondheim and concept, direction and choreography by Jerome Robbins. Spielberg, Kevin McCollum and Kristie Macosko Krieger will produce the film musical, which will be released by Twentieth Century Fox.
Moreno is one of 15 people to achieve EGOT status, having won two Emmys, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony. She currently stars in the critically-acclaimed Latino remake of Norman Lear’s classic sitcom, One Day at a Time, on Netflix. Other notable acting work includes roles in the films Singin’ in the Rain and Carnal Knowledge, as well as a long-running stint on the children’s television program The Electric Company, an Emmy-winning appearance on The Muppet Show and a role on HBO’s Oz.
In addition to her EGOT awards, Moreno has won various lifetime achievement awards – including the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award and a Kennedy Center Honor – as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Recently, Moreno has appeared in guest-starring roles on TV series such as Getting On, Jane The Virgin, and Grace and Frankie.
Spielberg’s most recent projects include the two-time Best Picture Oscar-nominated The Post, a political drama inspired by the Washington Post’s first female publisher, Katharine Graham (Meryl Streep), and its driven editor, Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks), and Ready Player One based on Ernest Cline’s popular YA sci-fi novel which has grossed close to $600M at the global box office.
Moreno is repped by Innovative Artists.
#39
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
re: West Side Story (2021, D: Spielberg)
Ansel Elgort to Star in Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’
https://variety.com/2018/film/news/a...rg-1202964116/
https://variety.com/2018/film/news/a...rg-1202964116/
#41
Moderator
Thread Starter
re: West Side Story (2021, D: Spielberg)
#42
re: West Side Story (2021, D: Spielberg)
Is this film an update or a period piece? If it's an update, then it makes no sense to have a Puerto Rican gang, since they don't exist anymore. Large portions of the Puerto Rican population of New York have married whites (or other races--Asians and black, esp.) and moved to the suburbs. The Hispanic gangs that exist now are mainly Dominican, although there are some El Salvadorean gangs in Long Island. The only white gangs are Albanian or Russian. For this story to work today, Tony should be Dominican and Maria should be Albanian.
#43
re: West Side Story (2021, D: Spielberg)
^ Kushner confirmed to Vanity Fair that it will be a period piece:
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood...g-tony-kushner
Kushner, who also wrote the screenplays for Spielberg’s Munich and Lincoln, explained that the new film will touch upon several themes of urban life in the late 1950s, and how issues of ethnic representation shaped and developed culture in that era. “I don’t know if ‘gritty’ is necessarily the right word, but there are aspects of urban life in ‘57, ‘58, ‘59 that weren’t touched on in the 1961 movie that we are focusing on,” said Kushner.
#44
DVD Talk Gold Edition
re: West Side Story (2021, D: Spielberg)
Spielberg the Nostalgic strikes again.
Once upon a time, I couldn't wait for the next SS film release.
Now, I pass on more than I watch.
Such a waste of talent trapped in his past.
Once upon a time, I couldn't wait for the next SS film release.
Now, I pass on more than I watch.
Such a waste of talent trapped in his past.
#47
Moderator
Thread Starter
re: West Side Story (2021, D: Spielberg)
EXCLUSIVE: After auditioning more than 30K people from around the world, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story has found its Maria in fresh face 17-year old New Jersey High School student Rachel Zegler who will make her film debut opposite Ansel Elgort as Tony.
Rounding out the principal Shark roles are Broadway veterans Ariana DeBose as Anita and David Alvarez as Bernardo. Theater performer Josh Andrés Rivera has been cast as Chino.
https://deadline.com/2019/01/steven-...er-1202535002/
Rounding out the principal Shark roles are Broadway veterans Ariana DeBose as Anita and David Alvarez as Bernardo. Theater performer Josh Andrés Rivera has been cast as Chino.
https://deadline.com/2019/01/steven-...er-1202535002/
#48
re: West Side Story (2021, D: Spielberg)
I see Zegler has her own YouTube channel where she does song covers. She kind of resembles Rebecca Black (who sang that hilariously awful "Friday" song). Thankfully, this girl is a much better singer.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5C...wPjex6w/videos
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5C...wPjex6w/videos
#49
re: West Side Story (2021, D: Spielberg)
The girl hired to play Maria is Polish and Colombian. Which makes her ethnically closer to Tony, who was Polish in the original, than to any of the Sharks, all of whom would have considered her white.
Last edited by Ash Ketchum; 01-16-19 at 08:56 AM.
#50
DVD Talk Legend
re: West Side Story (2021, D: Spielberg)
Spielberg is about 20 years past being a "must-see" director imho. Why this remake is being done is really beyond me.