Steven Spielberg’s big-screen adaptation of the classic 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story doesn’t hit theaters until December 10, but in the meantime, another trailer for the film has been shared.
The 30-second clip features Ansel Elgort as Tony delivering a pivotal line from the script to Rachel Zegler’s Maria: “All my life, it’s like I’m always just about to fall off the edge of the world’s tallest building. I stopped falling the second I saw you.” For a moment, the young lovers trapped in a feud between rival gangs the Sharks and the Jet are allowed to just be.
The teaser is the first to shed light on the romance brewing between the pair, whereas the previously released previews were rooted more so in the rivalries that classifies West Side Story as a true tale of star-crossed lovers in the vein of Romeo and Juliet, rather than your classic happily ever after love story.
The West Side Story screenplay was written by Tony Kushner pulling inspiration from the original musical written by Arthur Laurents. The modern adaptation will introduce a moving story to a whole new generation of viewers, while also satisfying those who were familiar with the original.
“Our entire home was festooned with classical musical albums, and I grew up surrounded by classical music. West Side Story was actually the first piece of popular music our family ever allowed into the home,” Spielberg told Vanity Fair. “I absconded with it – this was the cast album from the 1957 Broadway musical – and just fell completely in love with it as a kid. West Side Story has been that one haunting temptation that I have finally given in to.”
The film was originally scheduled to be released last December, but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Hollywood Records will be releasing the motion picture soundtrack for the film, which will feature score and songs from the film, this December.
Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story will be released on December 10, 2021.