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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, 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.
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.
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.
The new film is set to begin production in 2019, with Ansel Elgort as Tony.
H/T: Vulture, Geek Tyrant, Variety