Steven Spielberg eyeing West Side Story remake

Steven Spielberg could be about to remake one of Hollywood’s best-loved musicals, with the director reportedly mulling over a new version of West Side Story .

The original film was released back in 1961, and scooped a whopping ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, so Spielberg will have plenty to live up to.

Loosely based on Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet , the story subs in rival gangs t he Jets and the Sharks in place of the Montagues and Capulets, for a New York spin on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.

At this stage, Spielberg seems to have done little more than register an interest, but that seems to have been more than enough to get rights-holders Fox all excited, with the studio said to have “unlocked” the story for a potential remake.

Spielberg has never taken on a fully-fledged musical in his storied career, which should go some way towards explaining his interest in this one. Expect that box to be ticked sooner rather than later if Fox has its way…

George Wales

George was once GamesRadar's resident movie news person, based out of London. He understands that all men must die, but he'd rather not think about it. But now he's working at Stylist Magazine.