“I was 10 years old when I first listened to the West Side Story album” - says Steven Spielberg on why he chose to make this musical starring Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler

Directed by Academy Award winner Steven Spielberg, from a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Tony Kushner, West Side Story tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love in 1957 New York City, releasing in India on 10th December. This reimagining of the beloved musical stars Ansel Elgort (Tony), Ariana DeBose (Anita), David Alvarez (Bernardo), Mike Faist (Riff), Brian d’Arcy James (Officer Krupke), Corey Stoll (Lieutenant Schrank), Josh Andrés Rivera (Chino), with Rita Moreno (as Valentina, who owns the corner store in which Tony works) and introducing Rachel Zegler (María). 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.

Bringing together the best of both Broadway and Hollywood, here's a special behind-the-scenes video of Steven Spielberg's majestic filmmaking for West Side Story! “I have been challenged by what would be the right musical to take on. And I could never forget my childhood,” Spielberg says in the video. “I was 10 years old when I first listened to the West Side Story album, and it never went away. I’ve been able to fulfill that dream and keep that promise that I made to myself: You must make West Side Story.” 10-Year-Old Stevie must be thrilled that 74-Year-Old Steven kept his promise… and made some sick dinosaur movies along the way.

"It's just that love bridges every divide. It's timeless in the sense that we [should] be reminded of that story as often as possible," says Spielberg.

The film’s creative team includes Kushner, who also serves as an executive producer; Tony Award winner Justin Peck, who choreographed the musical numbers in the film; renowned Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor and Grammy Award winner Gustavo Dudamel, who helmed the recording of the iconic score; Academy Award-nominated composer and conductor David Newman, who arranged the score; Tony Award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori, who supervised the cast on vocals; and Grammy-nominated music supervisor Matt Sullivan, who served as executive music producer for the film.

ALSO READ: Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story starring Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler to release on December 10 in India