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Cape Town – Ansel Elgort has been cast in the lead role for Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story.
The Baby Driver actor will play Tony, a role first played by Larry Kert in the 1957 Broadway musical and then Richard Beymer in the 1961 Oscar winning movie.
The original film version of Leonard Bernstein's musical - Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet reimagined in the world of warring New York gangs - came out in 1961, winning 10 Oscars and captivating a generation on the cusp of huge societal change.
For the remake, Spielberg teamed up with playwright and screenwriter Tony Kushner.
According to The Hollywood Reporter Spielberg spent most of the year looking for cast who can sing, dance and act.
Entertainment Weekly reports that Tony award-winner Justin Peck has been announced as the film's choreographer.
Elgort, who is the first big name to be cast for the movie, showed off his singing chops in Baby Driver. Earlier this year he released a music video for his song, Supernova.
The film is schedule for release in 2019.
