The West Side Story remake has been quietly moving forward. However, with the announcement of an original cast member joining the new production, it's about to get a lot louder, with the cheers of fans.
Rita Moreno joins Steven Spielberg's #WestSideStory reboot https://t.co/Cdx33P4kBT https://t.co/61fa134f4u— Variety (@Variety) 1543367061.0
Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the original film, has been brought into the remake. She will be playing a character named 'Valentina' described as an expanded version of the store owner for whom Tony works.
Fans could not be more excited.
@Variety I bet she can still get in to that dress! Love her!— Miz Val (@Miz Val) 1543367199.0
@AP Love her!— Maraschino🍒 (@Maraschino🍒) 1543467284.0
@broadwaycom @TheRitaMoreno So excited for this— tina kravitz (@tina kravitz) 1543720556.0
@THR @DMM727 @TheRitaMoreno LOVE HER! Can’t wait to see Season #3 of One Day At A Time! 🤞— All Hail the Delusional Narcissist. (@All Hail the Delusional Narcissist.) 1543359558.0
When you see Rita Moreno trending but it’s because she’s going to appear in the West Side Story remake https://t.co/bKifGn5z0A— Henchwoman (@Henchwoman) 1543357422.0
@Variety Amazing 😉— Ritch Broughton (@Ritch Broughton) 1543498352.0
@AP Not too shabby for 87 years old— SoulSoldSeparately (@SoulSoldSeparately) 1543467199.0
The return of Moreno has been praised by fans, who've taken it as a sign the remake wishes to respect the original film and Broadway show.
West Side Story was a tale adapted from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The stage musical was first produced in 1957, being adapted into a film in 1961. The film was critically acclaimed and was the second highest grossing film that year.
It has retained a massive fanbase since its release.
@THR @TheRitaMoreno I don't mind if she's playing the same role— Corrine Foxworth II (@Corrine Foxworth II) 1543361230.0
@GeeksOfColor That is seriously a "can't lose" casting choice.— Mark T Howard (@Mark T Howard) 1543444274.0
@Slate Love her! 💕💖💕— Corinne Favero (@Corinne Favero) 1543512727.0
@Variety This is FILM-tastic news! 😊 #WestSideStory #RitaMoreno— Kristin (@Kristin) 1543371045.0
@AP I would watch just for her... and I HATE schlock. She is a bad-ass— Davey S Boggs (@Davey S Boggs) 1543466940.0
@THR @TheRitaMoreno If shes excited about the remake, maybe we all should be!— Joe W (@Joe W) 1543363561.0
Moreno, currently starring on the Netflix show One Day at a Time, is a prolific actor in her own right. She is one of the few entertainers to have ever earned an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards) and one of only two to have also received a Triple Crown of Acting, winning an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony for acting categories.
To say she's talented is an understatement.
@AP She is going after a second #EGOT.— Steve Vanderpool (@Steve Vanderpool) 1543467471.0
@AP Oscar 1961, Grammy 1973, Tony 1975, Emmy 1977, 1978. She is unique.— maria palau (@maria palau) 1543468712.0
The new film is set to begin production in 2019, with Ansel Elgort as Tony.
H/T: Vulture, Geek Tyrant, Variety