Tony Kushner Currently Working on Script for WEST SIDE STORY Remake

In an all-new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, prolific filmmaker Steven Spielberg reveals that a remake of WEST SIDE STORY is currently in the works, featuring a script by Tony Kushner.

While discussing his upcoming film projects with THR, Spielberg spoke of the potential remake of the iconic musical, which would be a Fox/MGM co-production. He added that ANGELS IN AMERICA scribe Tony Kushner is currently working on a script. Spielberg says he has dreamt of adapting the movie "for decades," and recently secured the rights after 15 years of attempting to do so.

Read the interview in full HERE

Kushner received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1993 for his play Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes. He co-authored with Eric Roth the screenplay for the 2005 film Munich, and he wrote the screenplay for the 2012 film Lincoln, both critically acclaimed movies. For his work, he received a National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama in 2013.

The 1961 musical drama film WEST SIDE STORY was directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. The film is an adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. It starred Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno, and George Chakiris.

Released on October 18, 1961 through United Artists, the film became the second highest grossing film of the year in the United States and was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won 10, including Best Picture (as well as a special award for Robbins), BECOMING the record holder for the most wins for a movie musical.

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