Ansel Elgort Cast in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story”

Ansel Elgort is Steven Spielberg’s Tony. 

The 24-year-old actor has just landed his next major role starring as Tony in Spielberg’s remake of the classic Broadway musical West Side Story. The casting was confirmed by the producers on Monday.

Elgort has already proven his musicality in the feature Baby Driver and little do people know, he’s also a dancer. He actually studied at the School of American Ballet in New York City for five years.

This won’t be the first time the hit musical was adapted for the big screen. The original big-screen version was a major success winning ten Academy Awards including Best Picture. Elgort will be filling the shoes of Richard Beymer who starred as Tony in 1961 original that also featured a stellar cast including Natalie Wood, George Chakiris, Rita Moreno, and Russ Tamblyn.

Originally inspired by Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story follows the rivalry between two street gangs, the white Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. The rivalry deepens when Tony, a former jet, falls for Maria, sister of the Sharks’ leader. 

Spielberg, Kevin McCollum, and Kristie Macosko Krieger will produce the movie. According to Entertainment Weekly, the producers have seen thousands of dancers, singers, and actors over the past several months with filming scheduled to begin in the summer of 2019.