Spielberg’s upcoming remake of West Side Story, the 1961 Oscar winner, has announced a cast of Broadway alums and a few TV dance stars to fill out the ranks of the new Sharks and Jets.
Mike Faist will play Riff, the leader of the Jets. Faist has already starred in the Broadway productions “Dear Evan Hansen” and “Newsies.” Puerto Rican singer and dancer Ana Isabelle will play Rosalia. Maddie Ziegler, who appeared in “Dance Moms” and in a series of Sia music videos, will play a member of the Jets.
Ansel Elgort and Rita Moreno were previously announced as the two leads. Moreno will be playing Valentina, a remade version of the character of Doc, the owner of the corner store in which Tony works.
Elgort has been cast as Tony.
Casting director Cindy Tolan oversaw auditions from over 30,000 performers that included open casting calls in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and San Juan. “West Side Story” will mark the feature film debut for over 50 cast members.