In 2004, it was announced Steven Spielberg would direct a remake of West Side Story, an adaptation based on the 1961 classic. Like its predecessor, the musical drama will be loosely based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, set in 1950’s New York following a rivalry between two interracial, blue-collar families, finished with extended dance scenes and a strong focus on social issues.
One of Hollywood’s critically acclaimed and perhaps, last great director, Spielberg has been best known for his action movies, from Jurassic Park to Jaws, to science-fiction films which include E.T. to the illustrious A.I. Artificial Intelligence. However, Spielberg has also been praised for his versatility for his time-period and war movies, such as Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can and Lincoln, all masterpieces that he has long aimed to explore since the early 90’s.
A true storyteller, one can imagine how Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story will be showcased, especially due to the film’s delayed release date due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The upcoming American romantic musical drama has been the topic of conversation since the early 2000’s, when Spielberg expressed interest in creating his first-time ever musical, stating: ‘It’s a genre I’ve been looking to explore for twenty years. I just need something to excite me’ (via CheatSheet).
Despite this however, fans around the world of both the classic 60’s film and Hollywood’s most multifaceted director are long anticipating West Side Story and many can’t help but wonder: will this be Spielberg’s last film?
In 2019 it was confirmed Spielberg would direct the fifth installment of the Indian Jones franchise, as well as signing onto Netflix to direct two films per year for an unspecified amount of years (via Variety). Even so, what will be Hollywood’s last greatest storyteller swan song? Will it be the highly anticipated West Side Story? Or will online subscribers on streaming platforms bear witness to his last great film? One can wonder and even dare hope, that Steven Spielberg will continue creating and exploring all cinematic genres for years to come, no matter where the future of movie-going will lead us.
-Natalia Ortonowska ©
Getty Images.