Rachel Zegler
The prequel starring Rachel Zegler is set to hit theaters on Friday, November 17.
The high school comedy marks Mooney's directorial debut.
"I couldn't get a job for the life of me because 'West Side Story' hadn't come out yet," Zegler said of auditioning to join the DCU during the pandemic.
"I'm afraid to tell you no because you're a bunch of men and I am a woman alone in New York City," the actress said.
Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth, Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage, and Hunter Schafer star in the prequel movie, directed by Francis Lawrence.
"I really don’t have anything to do with this conversation, and I’m looking forward to moving past it."
"I was really overwhelmed with the response to it because it was a comment I made on my own Instagram post," the "West Side Story" star said.
Rachel Zegler Confirmed to Present at Oscars, Plus Venus and Serena Williams, Jacob Elordi, and More
Now confirmed after some uncertainty about her invite, Zegler will be joined by the likes of Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jason Momoa, Jill Scott, and J.K. Simmons.
Despite seven nominations for "West Side Story," lead actress Zegler was originally not invited to the 94th Academy Awards.
"I hope some last-minute miracle occurs and I can celebrate our film in person," the actress wrote. "But hey, that’s how it goes sometimes."
The "West Side Story" star recalled the backlash at her Disney casting, saying, "We need to love them in the right direction."
‘West Side Story’ Review: Steven Spielberg’s First Musical Is a Revelatory Riff on a Beloved Classic
The filmmaker honors a sacred piece of musical theater by flexing all over it with some of the most exhilarating setpieces he’s ever shot, but there are a handful of puzzling missteps.
