Steven Spielberg is still very much in Giant Country, as his latest film “The BFG” opens in theaters on July 1, but the director is hoping to land soon in New York’s Upper West Side, for a remake of the musical “West Side Story.”
Spielberg has “Lincoln” screenwriter Tony Kushner working on an adaptation of the modern day story of Romeo and Juliet set in New York City’s street gang scene, THR reports. If the movie gets made, Fox and MGM will produce it together.
Spielberg has apparently been interested in remaking the story for the big screen “for decades,” he told THR, and secured the rights 15 years after first pursuing them. It’s unclear if Spielberg will direct the project himself. IMDb Pro lists him as “rumored” to be attached as the director.
While the new script for “West Side Story” is being written, however, Spielberg will be hard at work on his next directorial effort, the sci-fi thriller “Ready Player One,” based on the 2011 dystopian novel by Ernest Cline. “Silicon Valley” star J.T. Miller recently joined the production, which is scheduled to begin shooting later this month. The movie also stars “The BFG’s” Mark Rylance in the role of a popular video game developer whose death sparks a virtual competition for his fortune.
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