The highly anticipated musical film West Side Story held its world premiere in New York, a very appropriate location as the Big Apple is where this love story takes place. Equally, if not more, appropriate is to finally see Latino actors playing the various Puerto Rican characters which for the most part did not happen in the original film adaptation–with the exception of the legendary Rita Moreno in the role of “Anita” that won her an Academy Award. The film opens in movie theatres Dec. 10.
The new West Side Story is Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg’s version, some call it “reimagining,” of the 1961 multiple Academy Award-winning musical film that was an adaptation of the Broadway musical hit of the same title–which in turn was inspired by Shakespeare’s tragic love story Romeo and Juliet.
Check out the video of the world premiere featuring the film’s stars, including Latinos like Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose and David Alvarez sharing the spotlight with Spielberg and Moreno, who is also an executive producer of the feature. The film is a production of 20th Century Fox, a subdivision of Walt Disney Studios which is also distributing the musical.
Featured Photo: Screenshot of video of West Side Story’s world premiere (Photo: 20th Century Fox/Disney)
