Steven Spielberg's West Side Story 2021 is a remake of the 1961 classic movie musical, and features an all-new cast; here's how it compares to the original cast of characters. The cast includes some familiar names for movie lovers but also a lot of lesser-known young talent. There will be plenty of comparisons made between the 1961 and 2021 versions of West Side Story, and those who love the original will be looking to see just how the new cast stacks up to the old.
Both movie versions of West Side Story are based on the 1957 Broadway musical by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. This pairing was a kind of Broadway passing of the torch, much like Sondheim's cameo in Tick, Tick... Boom! 60 years later. The musical is itself a reworking of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, setting its story of star-crossed lovers amidst feuding street gangs in 1950s Upper West Side. The 1961 movie, featuring stark direction by Robert Wise, was a huge hit, becoming the top-grossing movie of the year and winning 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It has since become regarded as a Hollywood classic.
Spielberg's new version has big shoes to fill, but has received positive reviews, with many cast members also receiving praise. The 2021 West Side Story is largely faithful to the original story, keeping the 1950s setting and including several nods to the original. Still, Spielberg also updated it for a modern era and added his own twist. Here's a look at how the 2021 cast compares to the 1961 one head-to-head.
Ansel Elgort as Tony
One of the more divisive elements in West Side Story's generally positive reviews is Ansel Elgort's performance as Tony, the story's male lead. Tony is the co-founder of the Jets gang, made of young men of white (or at least white-passing) descent, who falls in love with Maria. Elgort is a rising Hollywood star, known for his performances in movies like Baby Driver and The Fault in Our Stars, but was also the subject of recent sexual assault allegations. In the 1961 West Side Story, Tony was played by Richard Beymar. It is by far Beymar's best-remembered role, but he would appear later in life as Ben Horne in Twin Peaks.
Rachel Zegler as Maria
Maria is the female lead of West Side Story, the sister of Bernardo, the leader of the Puerto Rican Sharks gang. Rachel Zegler was cast when she was still in high school with no film credits, just off the strength of YouTube audition videos. But she's set to be a future star, with an appearance set for the anticipated Shazam: The Fury of the Gods and a starring role in Disney's live-action Snow White remake. Since her casting, Zegler has built a fan following through her YouTube channel and appearances on shows like The Voice and The George Lucas Talk Show. Zegler's casting also reflects the 2021 movie's commitment to using all Hispanic actors to portray the Puerto Rican Sharks gang, unlike the older film. In the 1961 movie, the role of Maria was played by Natalie Wood, who similarly got started in Hollywood at a young age, appearing as an 8-year-old in Miracle on 34th Street and as a teenager in iconic films like Rebel Without A Cause and The Searchers.
Ariana DeBose as Anita
Anita is Maria's best friend/surrogate older sister and Bernardo's girlfriend and plays a crucial role in West Side Story's plot. In the new version, Anita is played by Ariana DeBose, a Broadway veteran who was an original cast member in popular Lin-Manuel Miranda musical Hamilton and who received a Tony nomination for playing Donna Summer on stage. In the first West Side Story film, Anita is played by legendary actress Rita Moreno, who also has a role in the new movie.
David Alvarez as Bernardo
Bernardo is the leader of the Sharks and Anita's partner, and he strongly objects to Tony's interest in his younger sister Maria. Alvarez is another Broadway star, having won a Tony Award for his starring role in Billy Elliot the Musical at just 15, and also appearing in the Showtime series American Rust. The original 1961 Bernardo was played by George Chakiris, whose roots were in film musicals, and he received considerable acclaim for his portrayal of Bernardo in the original version, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was never fully able to recapture that success, but did appear in several TV shows in the 1970s and 80s, including the Lynda Carter Wonder Woman series and the original Hawaii Five-O.
Mike Faist as Riff
Riff is the current leader of the Jets and Tony's best friend, serving as a counterpart to both Anita and Bernardo. In Spielberg's film, he is played by Mike Faist, another Broadway star who is best known for playing Connor in the Broadway version of Dear Evan Hansen. In the Wise version of West Side Story, Riff was played by Russ Tamblyn, who also appeared in 1950s hits like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Peyton Place. Like Beymar, he was later part of the cast of Twin Peaks, playing the eccentric Dr. Lawrence Jacoby.
Rita Moreno as Valentina
Valentina is an original role in the 2021 version of West Side Story, who takes the place of corner store owner Doc in the original musical. The role was created for Moreno, who also serves as the movie's executive producer. From the recent One Day At A Time to other classic musicals like Singin' in the Rain, Moreno has had a film career spanning over 70 years that has earned her the coveted EGOT award combination and made her an icon of Puerto Rican culture. As the actress who played Anita in the original 1961 movie, Moreno's casting is a way of creating continuity between the two versions of West Side Story.
Brian d'Arcy James as Officer Krupke
Krupke is a beat cop who tries, in his brusque and heavy-handed way, to keep peace between the Sharks and Jets. In the 2021 West Side Story, Krupke is played by Brian d'Arcy James, a theater veteran who is known for playing King George III in Hamilton as well as roles in TV series like 13 Reasons Why and movies such as Spotlight. In the 1961 version, the role is filled by William Bramley, who had also performed it in the original Broadway production and went on to appear in TV shows like Gunsmoke and a mid-series episode of Star Trek: The Original Series.
Corey Stoll as Lieutenant Shrank
Schrank is Krupke's partner, who tries to prevent West Side Story's tragic ending. Stoll doesn't appear in the 2021 film's trailer, but is arguably the most established actor in the film, and has had a big 2021 with supporting roles in The Many Saints of Newark and Scenes from a Marriage. His 1961 counterpart is Simon Oakland, who was most famous as a television actor in series like The Twilight Zone and The Rockford Files.
West Side Story 2021's Supporting Cast & Characters
Josh Andres Rivera as Chino - Chino is a Sharks gang member and Maria's hotheaded fiance who plays a crucial role in West Side Story's ending. In the original, Chino was played by Jose De Vega.
Ezra Menas as Anybodys - In the 2021 movie, Anybodys has been re-imagined as a non-binary member of the Jets. In the 1961 original West Side Story, Susan Oakes portrays Anybodys as a tomboy desperate to be accepted as a gang member.
Mike Iveson as Glad Hand - Glad Hand is a well-intentioned but clueless social worker who was played by an uncredited John Astin in the original.
Kyle Coffman as Ice - Ice is another member of the Jets. In the original West Side Story film, Ice is played by Tucker Smith, and is the Jets' second-in-command after Riff.
Sean Harrison Jones as Action - Action is the hot-headed member of the Jets, portrayed by Tony Mordente in the 1961 movie.
Patrick Higgins as Baby John - The hesitant Baby John is the youngest and most innocent member of the Jets. He was played by Eliot Feld in Robert Wise's version of West Side Story.
Paloma Garcia-Lee as Graziella - Graziella was Tony's ex but is currently dating Riff. She was played in the original by Gina Trikonis.