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Rachel Zegler plays María and Ansel Elgort plays Tony in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 film adaptation of West Side Story. Their romance brings together two young people connected to rival groups: María’s brother Bernardo leads the Sharks, while Tony is trying to leave the Jets. Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the 1961 film, returns to the story as Valentina.
Who plays the main characters in West Side Story (2021)?
| Actor | Character | Connection to the story |
|---|---|---|
| Rachel Zegler | María | Bernardo’s younger sister and Tony’s love interest. |
| Ansel Elgort | Tony | A young man seeking to leave the Jets who falls in love with María. |
| Ariana DeBose | Anita | Bernardo’s girlfriend. |
| David Alvarez | Bernardo | Leader of the Sharks and María’s brother. |
| Mike Faist | Riff | Leader of the Jets. |
| Josh Andrés Rivera | Chino | A member of the Sharks’ circle. |
| Ana Isabelle | Rosalía | A supporting character listed in the film’s official cast. |
| Corey Stoll | Lieutenant Schrank | A police lieutenant. |
| Brian d’Arcy James | Officer Krupke / Sergeant Krupke | Official pages use both titles; consult the film’s credited wording when exact billing matters. |
| Rita Moreno | Valentina | Doc’s widow and the owner of the neighborhood corner store where Tony works. |
The 20th Century Studios cast page includes additional supporting performers, including Curtiss Cook and Maddie Ziegler. The names above are a principal-character guide, not a complete list of everyone credited.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![STEELBOOK BD WEST SIDE STORY 2021 [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51t86ephpdL._SL160_.jpg)
|
STEELBOOK BD WEST SIDE STORY 2021 [Blu-ray] | $35.13 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![West Side Story (2021) [4K UHD + Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51YuqClzIOL._SL160_.jpg)
|
West Side Story (2021) [4K UHD + Blu-ray] | $52.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
West Side Story (Original Soundtrack) | $6.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
West Side Story | $3.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
West Side Story (2021) (w/ Bonus Features) | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
How are the characters connected?
The film is set in 1957 New York City, where the Jets and Sharks are rivals. María is Bernardo’s younger sister; Bernardo leads the Sharks, while Tony is seeking a life beyond his connection to the Jets. Their relationship is the story’s central romance, with Anita connected to the Sharks through her relationship with Bernardo.
These links explain why the characters’ personal relationships sit inside a larger neighborhood rivalry. The film’s official synopsis describes the story as one of young love amid the conflict between the two groups.
#1 Best Overall
- The disk has English audio and subtitles.
Who is Valentina, and how does Rita Moreno connect the two films?
Rita Moreno plays Valentina, Doc’s widow, in the 2021 adaptation. The character reworks and expands Doc’s place in the story: Valentina owns the corner store where Tony works. Moreno played Anita in the 1961 film, so her return is a connection to the earlier movie, but she has a different role in Spielberg’s version.
The change is more than a change of actor: the 2021 film gives Doc’s position in the neighborhood to Valentina as a fuller character. The production company describes Valentina as a reconceived, expanded version of Doc.
What is the 2021 film’s background?
Steven Spielberg directed the film, adapted from the 1957 Broadway musical. Tony Kushner wrote the screenplay, and Justin Peck choreographed the film’s musical numbers. The original stage musical’s creative credits include a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and concept, direction, and choreography by Jerome Robbins.
The film opened in U.S. theaters on December 10, 2021. Its official soundtrack was released on CD and vinyl; that confirms the formats, not current availability or pricing at any particular retailer.
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Rank #3
- New Store Stock
Where can I find the full cast credits?
For a broader list of performers and exact billing, use the official 20th Century Studios page and the Amblin production page. Official pages use slightly different wording for Krupke’s title, so the film’s own credits are the best reference when precision matters.
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Rank #4
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