Ansel Elgort to star in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story

Actor Ansel Elgort has bagged the lead role in director Steven Spielberg's remake of the "West Side Story" musical.

According to variety.com, the "Fault In Our Stars" actor will essay character Tony, a role first portrayed by Larry Kert in the original 1957 Broadway musical.

The musical debuted on Broadway in 1957 with a book by Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim and music by Leonard Bernstein.

Then, it was turned into a movie released in 1961 that starred Richard Beymer as Tony and Natalie Wood as Maria, the girl he loves.

The filming for "West Side Story" will begin next summer and Spielberg, Kevin McCollum and Kristie Macosko Krieger will produce it.

The role of Maria has still to be cast.

(With inputs from agencies.)