News Analysis India

Tag: Steven Spielberg

  • Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ teaser debuts at 2021 Oscar ceremony

    By ANI
    WASHINGTON: The first teaser for Steven Spielberg’s much-awaited adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical ‘West Side Story’ was finally released during the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony.

    While Spielberg has dabbled in a slew of genres from adventure to sci-fi, this will mark the filmmaker’s first time directing a musical. The Academy Award winner’s version stars Ansel Elgort as Tony, newcomer Rachel Zegler as Maria, Ariana DeBose as Anita, and David Alvarez as Bernardo.

    The one-minute and 30 seconds long teaser kicked off with various morning shots of New York City, accompanied by the all-too-familiar whistling sound. The teaser continues with members of two very separate groups meeting in the shadows, teenage gangs known as the Jets and the Sharks.

    Further Valentina (Rita Moreno) can be heard singing ‘Somewhere’ while Tony (Elgort) is seen at a high school dance, glancing at Maria (newcomer Rachel Zegler). The teaser also offers a glimpse at Anita (Ariana Debose) as she dances in the street with a number of other characters.

    It winds down with a number of quick shots including a glimpse at David Alvarez’s Bernardo, as the gangs clash once again. The final shot features Tony gazing up at Maria as she stands on a fire escape and Valentina wraps up the ‘Somewhere’ song.

    Moreno, who won an Oscar for playing Anita in the 1961 film, will appear in a supporting role, playing Valentina, who is said to be a reworking of the character Doc, Tony’s boss in the original stage and film versions.

    In a recent interview with Variety, Moreno had assured fans that her role is “not a cameo, it’s a real part.” She is currently the only cast member from the 1961 film set to appear in Spielberg’s remake. Moreno, who recently released the documentary ‘Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It’, said she was thrilled to be working alongside Spielberg.

    ‘West Side Story’ was first a Broadway musical, which debuted in 1957. It was written by Arthur Laurents with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, along with the concept, direction, and choreography by Jerome Robbins.

    A few years later, in 1961, the musical/romance was made into a film, directed by Robbins and Robert Wise. It won 10 Oscars including best picture, best director, best cinematography, and best-supporting actress for Rita Morena who played Anita.

    Inspired by the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet, ‘West Side Story’ tells a star-crossed love story between two people from rival New York City gangs. The film’s original release date was delayed because of the ongoing pandemic but is now due to hit theaters on December 10.

  • Paul Dano joins cast of Steven Spielberg’s next

    By Express News Service
    Paul Dano, who is known for his roles in films like There Will Be Blood and 12 Years Of Slave, is the latest addition to the cast of Steven Spielberg’s next feature film.

    The film, according to reports, is based on the childhood experience of the director in Arizona. Though the plot details are scarce at the moment, the film will reportedly focus on the main character as a young child and teen.

    Spielberg co-wrote the script with Tony Kushner, who previously worked with the director on movies like Munich and Lincoln.

    The film explores the protagonist’s relationship with his parents and it is set in different periods. Reportedly, Dano will be seen as the protagonist’s father.

    He joins actors Michelle Williams and Seth Rogen, who will be playing versions of Spielberg’s mother and uncle, respectively. 

    Each of the characters will have a unique voice separate from the real people who serve as the inspiration.

    The project will be Spielberg’s follow-up film to his West Side Story remake, which is expected to release this year. The film will start shooting later this year with an expectation that it will be released sometime in 2022.

    Spielberg will produce the project with Kushner and Kristie Macosko Krieger.Dano will next feature as DC villain The Riddler in Matt Reeves’ much-awaited The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson as the titular superhero.

  • Seth Rogen to star in Steven Spielberg’s directorial

    By Express News Service
    Seth Rogen has been roped in to play a pivotal role in filmmaker Steven Spielberg’s next feature film that is said to be based on his childhood. The upcoming project has a script co-written by Tony Kushner, who had previously worked with Spielberg on films such as Munich and Lincoln.

    Earlier, it was reported that Oscar-nominated actor Michelle Williams is in negotiations to star in the film in a major role. While plot details are unavailable at the moment, reports state that the film will focus on the protagonist as a young child and teen, while living in Phoenix, Arizona, which is where Spielberg lived in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

    The film will also examine his relationship with his parents and be split across time periods. Rogen, who most recently featured in movies such as An American Pickle and The Disaster Artist, will be essaying the role of Spielberg’s uncle in the movie. Shooting will start later this year and the film is expected to be released sometime in 2022. The film will be produced by Spielberg, along with Kushner and Kristie Macosko Krieger.

  • Seth Rogen joins cast of Steven Spielberg’s next movie

    By PTI
    LOS ANGELES: Filmmaker Steven Spielberg has roped in actor Seth Rogen for a pivotal role in his next feature film.

    The untitled movie is said to be loosely based on his childhood growing up in Arizona, as per Variety.

    Spielberg co-wrote the script with Tony Kushner, who previously worked with director on movies such as “Munich” and “Lincoln”.

    Though the plot details are scarce at the moment, the film will reportedly focus on the main character as a young child and teen.

    The protagonist will be living in Phoenix, Arizona, which is where Spielberg lived in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

    The film will also examine the character’s relationship with his parents and be split across time periods.

    Rogen, who most recently featured in movies such as “An American Pickle” and “The Disaster Artist”, will be essaying the role of Spielberg’s favourite uncle in the movie.

    Oscar-nominated actor Michelle Williams is in negotiations to join the cast and play a major role.

    The project will be Spielberg’s follow-up film to his “West Side Story” remake, which is expected to release this year.

    The film will start shooting later this year with an expectation that it will be released sometime in 2022.

    Spielberg will produce the project with Kushner and Kristie Macosko Krieger.

  • Steven Spielberg gearing up for film on his childhood

    By Express News Service
    Veteran Hollywood director Steven Spielberg is set to direct a new movie loosely based on his childhood days while growing up in Arizona.Variety reported that the new movie will be Spielberg’s follow-up film to his remake of West Side Story remake, which is expected to release this year.The film has a script co-written by Tony Kushner. Tony had previously worked with Spielberg on movies such as Munich and Lincoln.

    As of now, Oscar-nominated actor Michelle Williams is in negotiations to star in the movie in a major role.Plot details are unavailable at the moment, however, reports state that the film will focus on the protagonist as a young child and teen. The film will also examine the character’s relationship with his parents and be split across time periods.

    The film will start shooting later this year and is expected to release sometime in 2022.Williams is also set to star in Todd Haynes’ MGM movie Fever, and the actor is also reteaming with Kelly Reichardt on the A24 project’ Showing Up. She recently finished filming for the Venom sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage. 

  • Steven Spielberg, Michelle Williams team up for new movie 

    By PTI
    LOS ANGELES: Veteran Hollywood filmmaker Steven Spielberg will next direct a movie that is loosely based on his childhood growing up in Arizona.

    According to Variety, the new movie will be Spielberg’s follow-up project to his “West Side Story” remake, which is expected to release this year.

    The filmmaker co-wrote the script with Tony Kushner, who previously worked with director on movies such as “Munich” and “Lincoln”.

    Oscar-nominated actor Michelle Williams is in negotiations to star in the movie in a major role.

    Though the plot details are scarce at the moment, the film will reportedly focus on the main character as a young child and teen.

    The protagonist will be living in Phoenix, Arizona, which is where Spielberg lived in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

    The film will also examine the character’s relationship with his parents and be split across time periods.

    The film will start shooting later this year with an expectation that it will be released sometime in 2022.

    Williams will next star in director Todd Haynes’ MGM movie “Fever”, and she is also reteaming with Kelly Reichardt on the A24 project “Showing Up”.

    The actor recently finished filming for “Venom: Let There Be Carnage”, a sequel to her 2018 hit “Venom”, co-starring Tom Hardy.

  • Steven Spielberg, Duffer brothers join forces for ‘The Talisman’ adaptation

    By PTI
    LOS ANGELES: Veteran filmmaker Steven Spielberg is collaborating with “Stranger Things” creators Matt and Ross Duffer for the adaptation of celebrate author Stephen King’s “The Talisman”.

    The book, which was penned by King and Peter Straub in 1984, will be turned into a series for streamer Netflix, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

    The Duffer brothers, whose smash hit Netflix show “Stranger Things” has been heavily inspired by King’s work, will executive produce the series.

    Netflix will produce the project in association with Spielberg’s Amblin Television and Paramount Television Studios.

    Curtis Gwinn, who worked as a writer-exec producer on “Stranger Things”, will serve as writer and showrunner of the show.

    “The Talisman” tells the story of Jack Sawyer, a 12-year old boy who sets off on an epic road-trip quest to save the life of his dying mother.

    He is in search of the Talisman, a powerful relic that can not only heal his mother but, as he learns, save the world.

    Sawyer’s journey criss-crosses two realities: the America we know and its dangerous, fantasy-world twin, The Territories.

    Matt and Ross Duffer will executive produce via their Monkey Massacre Productions, along with Spielberg, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey for Amblin TV.

    King also would serve as an executive producer, along with Paramount Television.