A new ad spot shows an extended look at the updated fire escape scene from Steven Spielberg's remake of West Side Story. The film, which is coming exclusively to theaters on December 10, 2021, is a new adaptation of the classic 1957 stage musical by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, and Steven Sondheim. The show was previously adapted to film by Robert Wise in 1961, starring Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer as star-crossed lovers Tony and María. That film was nominated for 11 Oscars and won 10, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress for Rita Moreno, who will be appearing in 2021's West Side Story as well.
West Side Story is a retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet set in New York's Upper West Side. Tony belongs to a gang called the Sharks and María's older brother is the leader of a rival Puerto Rican gang called the Jets, so their blossoming love is forbidden. One of the major scenes in the original stage production and film is the moment that transplants Romeo and Juliet's iconic balcony scene onto a fire escape, highlighting the urban setting. The fire escape scene has been a central element of West Side Story's marketing campaign.
On their official YouTube channel, 20th Century Studios posted a new ad spot that highlights that very scene on the fire escape. The moment pours on the romantic tension as Ansel Elgort's Tony slowly pulls himself up toward Rachel Zegler's María. The clip cuts away at the climactic moment, opting to show a montage of other moments from the film as well, but it does give audiences the most uninterrupted glimpse of the scene so far. Check out the video below:
Click Here to Watch the Video on Youtube
The cast of the new West Side Story also includes Ant-Man's Corey Stoll along with veteran stage actors Ariana DeBose (who has established her musical theater prowess in Hamilton and Schmigadoon), David Alvarez (Billy Elliot the Musical), Mike Faist (who originated the role of Connor Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen), and Brian d'Arcy James (Shrek the Musical and Hamilton). The film has been completed for quite some time, having been shot in mid-2019. The release was delayed by a year due to theater closures from the COVID-19 pandemic.
West Side Story will arrive in theaters just in time to qualify for the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony. It is almost guaranteed to be nominated for Best Picture in the upcoming slate, even if it doesn't win. However, if this is the case, it will be an exciting competition because - thanks to the delay - the film will be put in the unique position of competing for the top prize on the 40th anniversary of the original film winning the same award.
Source: 20th Century Studios
