Huh. Steven Spielberg will take on West Side Story and has cast... Angel Elgort as Tony: [link]
I mean, I'm theoretically interested in a new WWS? I don't think Spielberg has done an outright musical but it could be an interesting take. But Angel Elgort is, like, the human equivalent of a shrug emoji and I'm comfuzzled as to why he keep getting cast in lead roles. Apparently he can sing.
I'm more invested in who gets cast as Maria. Auliʻi Cravalho (Moana) is a product of many different heritages, one of which is Puerto Rican. She's the right age, has that mix of sweetness and steel, and her voice is dynamite. (I watched a couple of episodes of that TV show she stars in, where she's great, except UGH, Ted Mosby). She would make a smashing Maria, I think.
While, conceptually, that sounds legit, she's so associated with Polynesian-ness that I think it might read to people as "interchangeable brown people"
My initial gut instinct is Krysta Rodriguez, who I've enjoyed on screen and adore on stage, but I'm not actually certain she can sing it. Lyric soprano singing isn't actually much in vogue right now among the musical theater set. She could maybe play Anita, though. Karen Olivo player Anita in the 2009 Broadway show and was mindblowingly good but I don't know if she's done enough screen work to get a chance.
Proximity to Lin-Manuel Miranda can only be a bonus these days.
she's so associated with Polynesian-ness that I think it might read to people as "interchangeable brown people"
Yep. That was my initial reaction when she got cast as a Latina on Rise (that TV show I mentioned, which apparently was cancelled after just one season!) So I went wiki diving and apparently Cravalho is parts native Hawaiin, Irish, Puerto Rican, Portuguese and Chinese (!)
Given that this is a movie adaptation, my suspicion is that they will cast young, which takes out many of the awesome established Broadway actresses. I could see them going for a total unknown, especially for Maria.
That kind of mix is pretty common out here. However, the school she goes to is VERY Hawaiian identity.
Yeah, that seems like the kind of role you cast a wide net for.
The Maria in the 2009 revival is still around, [link] She was good but too old if they want to go anywhere close to true age since Maria is, what, 15 or 16?
Lea Michelle? I know, she is ancient at 32.
Ent Weekly suggested Camila Mendes fro Riverdale. I know she can sing, but does she have the upper range?
Esquire has an appreciation for Bram Stoker's Dracula ... during which, it seems, Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder may have been for-real married (not in this story - I've seen it elsewhere).
I'm fond of that movie, even though it's a big mess. :-) It's such gorgeous, bombastic eye candy.
I don't see how they can be for-real married if their own names weren't said, but that's a fun story.
