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ABC’s ’20/20′ to Air ‘West Side Story’ Special Dec 5, 2021

West Side Story - 2021 cast

This Sunday, December 5, ABC News show “20/20″ will take a special look at the upcoming “West Side Story” reimagining which is being released to theaters December 10, 2021.

Something’s Coming: West Side Story – A Special Edition of 20/20” features a new interview with legendary director Steven Spielberg who reflects on his fascination with the “West Side Story” original Broadway cast recording growing up, and how it helped inspire his filmmaking career.

Steven Spielberg

He also touches on his hesitancy to make a musical until now, the relevance of the movie’s themes in today’s world, and how he’s adapting the iconic musical for the next generation.

He’s not the only one we’ll hear from during the hour.

Stephen Sondheim, the legendary lyricist who wrote the lyrics for the original Broadway musical, will touch on the film’s music in an interview given just before his passing earlier this month.

West Side Story - 2021 - Rita Moreno

Iconic actress Rita Moreno opens up about her Oscar-winning role as Anita in the original 1961 version of the film, and her role in the new film which was written especially for her. Moreno – one of only three artists to be honored with Academy®, Emmy®, GRAMMY®, Tony® and Peabody Awards – also serves as one of the film’s executive producers.

Also interviewed are the stars of the upcoming film, Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, and Ariana DeBose (who also recently hosted ABC’s “The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration“), as well as Chita Rivera, who first played the role of Anita on Broadway,Tony-award winning Tony Kushner, who wrote the screenplay, Cindy Tolan, the film’s casting director on selecting rising stars for the iconic roles, and Puerto Rican historians that consulted on the film.

West Side Story - 2021

This special episode of “20/20” will air at 7pm ET.


The 2021 film is being released via Disney’s 20th Century Studios arm, and tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love in 1957 New York City.

It stars Ansel Elgort (Tony); Rachel Zegler (María); Ariana DeBose (Anita); David Alvarez (Bernardo); Mike Faist (Riff); Josh Andrés Rivera (Chino); Ana Isabelle (Rosalía); Corey Stoll (Lieutenant Schrank); Brian d’Arcy James (Officer Krupke); and Rita Moreno (as Valentina, who owns the corner store in which Tony works).

Here is the trailer:

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