Ansel Elgort will reportedly play Tony in a new movie version of "West Side Story." (REUTERS)
A new movie version of "West Side Story" has finally found its Tony: Ansel Elgort.
Filmmaker Steven Spielberg spent a long time searching for a well-rounded romantic lead — with production looking at thousands of actors — before he landed on the 24-year-old actor, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
MOLLY RINGWALD FINDS SOME JOHN HUGHES MOVIES ‘PROBLEMATIC’ IN A POST #METOO WORLD
The musical is a 20th-century take on “Romeo on Juliet.”
The story centers around star-crossed lovers, Tony and Maria, who fall in love after meeting at a dance in New York in the 1950s. The problem: they have ties to two different gangs.
Tony once belonged to a white gang called the Jets and is best friends with Riff, its leader. And Maria’s brother, Bernardo, heads a rival Puerto Rican group called the Sharks.
ANNE HATHAWAY WISHES ‘QUEEN ETERNAL’ JULIE ANDREWS A HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN INSTAGRAM POST
“West Side Story” has been adapted for the big screen before: Richard Beymer played Tony in the 1961 movie, opposite Natalie Wood as Maria.
Production on the Spielberg-helmed flick will reportedly start in the summer of 2019.
Trending
Fox News Entertainment
Get a daily look at the top news in music, movies, television and more in the entertainment industry.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.