One might assume that a long filmography will ensure an actor has a long and enduring legacy but that is not always the case. Some of Hollywood's greatest icons and other performers you would likely recognize are noted for having relatively short careers, particularly on the silver screen. See for yourself as we look back on some of our favorite actors who were only in a handful of movies.

John Belushi

As one of the most iconic members of the original Saturday Night Live cast, it is no surprise that John Belushi went on to have a noteworthy film career, though a short one, with just seven film credits. Before he passed in 1982, he was the standout of National Lampoon's Animal House, shared the screen with his friend Dan Aykroyd in 1941, The Blues Brothers (one of the best movies based on an SNL character), and Neighbors, starred opposite Jack Nicholson in Goin' South, and was in a forgotten '80s rom-com called Continental Divide.

Mara Wilson

While she has returned to acting on the small screen a number of times in more recent years, Mara Wilson's last movie (before cameoing in 2015's Billie Bob Joe) was 2000's Thomas and the Magic Railroad, which she has claimed is the gig that made her one of the most notable child stars who stepped away from Hollywood. She had previously starred in just four other films including her debut in Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, Matilda in the title role, and 1997's A Simple Wish.

Jake Lloyd

Former child actor Jake Lloyd might have been in more than just six movies — including the Arnold Schwarzenegger-led underrated holiday comedy, Jingle All the Way — if he had a better experience playing Anakin Skywalker (a young Darth Vader) in 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. He would later openly discuss his struggles with criticism he faced from Star Wars movie fans about his performance which, ultimately, led him to abandon acting.

Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes' rise to fame on Nickelodeon as part of the All That cast and the lead of her own sketch comedy series, The Amanda Show, led to starring roles in nine films, including Big Fat Liar, She's the Man, Sydney White, and Easy A. Said 2010 high school movie would be her final acting effort after announcing via Twitter that she was retiring from acting, which was followed by reports that she was seeking treatment for her mental health.

Chadwick Boseman

Even if we count all of his Marvel movie appearances as T'Challa (including his smash-hit, 2018 solo film, Black Panther), Chadwick Boseman's cinematic filmography amounts to just 13 tiles before his untimely death in 2020 after a battle with Stage 3 Colon Cancer. Yet, he gave a stunning performance every time, from playing Jackie Robinson in 42 to James Brown in Get On Up, and his Academy Award-nominated role in Netflix's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

Chris Farley

Throughout his career, Chris Farley delivered countless hilarious quotes on SNL and in a total of 10 movies — such as Tommy Boy and Beverly Hills Ninja — before his passing in 1997. A part of us still wishes we could have seen him voice the title role of Shrek, which ended up going to his Wayne's World co-star, Mike Myers.

River Phoenix

One of Hollywood's most infamous tragedies is the 1993 passing of 23-year-old River Phoenix, who starred in 13 films released between 1985 and 1994. In that short time, the Academy Award nominee (for his supporting role in 1988's Running on Empty) amassed a remarkable resume that includes Explorers, Stand By Me, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as Young Indy, and My Own Private Idaho, most notably.

Shannen Doherty

If we leave out her many cameos and just count starring roles, Shannen Doherty's film career amounts to only 13 titles, including The Secret of NIMH, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, and Heathers. Sadly, we will never get to see her reprise her role as Rene in Kevin Smith's long-awaited Mallrats sequel following her passing in 2024.

John Cazale

Before his untimely death at the age of 42 due to lung cancer, John Kazale only appeared in five films — namely The Godfather (Parts I and II), The Conversation, Dog Day Afternoon, and The Deer Hunter. However, each of these titles received a Best Picture Oscar nomination, with The Godfather movies and The Deer Hunter taking home the gold.

James Dean

Sometimes we wonder if James Dean would still be one of the most enduring icons of Hollywood's Silver Age had he not succumbed to a tragic car accident in 1955 at just 24 years old. Also the definitive poster boy for "cool," the two-time Oscar nominee's talents are immortalized in just three big screen classics, namely East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas

Most famous for playing Randy in the Home Improvement cast and voicing Simba in 1994's The Lion King, Jonathan Taylor Thomas was one of the most beloved teen idols of the '90s, but stepped away from Hollywood almost as soon as he hit adulthood. His last real movie, also his 17th total, was an obscure animated film from 2006 called Thru the Moebius Strip and, before that, he was in 1999's Walking Across Egypt, with not much since except for a few appearances on Last Man Standing.

Willow Smith

After making her debut in one of the best Will Smith movies, 2007's I Am Legend, as her real-life father's onscreen daughter, Willow Smith went on to star in 2008's Kit Kitteridge: An American Girl and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, alongside her mother, Jada Pinkett Smith. That trio amounts to her entire film career as her primary focus ever since has been her music.

Jeff Cohen

Despite being one of the funniest standouts of the Goonies cast, the 1985, family-friend adventure classic remains Jeff Cohen's only film. He revealed to The Daily Mail that, after growing up and losing weight, his career in front of the camera began to slow down, leading him to become an entertainment lawyer who even represents his Goonies co-star, Academy Award nominee Ke Huy Quan.

Taylor Momsen

At seven years old, Taylor Momsen made quite an impression with her breakout role as Cindy Lou Who in 2000’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas — the second of nine movies she stars in, including We Were Soldiers, and Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams. However, during her stint in the Gossip Girl cast, she formed a rock band called The Pretty Reckless, which has been her primary career ever since.

Peter Ostrum

Peter Ostrum will forever be remembered as Charlie Bucket from 1971's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which remains his sole acting effort. Today, he makes a living as a veterinarian for large animals like cows which, we suppose, means he does continue to make some contribution to the chocolate industry after all.

Jennette McCurdy

Jennette McCurdy is known mostly from TV, particularly as Sam Puckett on Nickelodeon's iCarly, but would appear in 12 feature films, including Hollywood Homicide with Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett in 2003 and 2016's Pet. After writing and directing a short film called Kenny in 2018, she officially retired from acting for reasons she would detail in her best-selling memoir, I'm Glad My Mom Died.

Angus T. Jones

The peak of Angus T. Jones' acting career was playing Jake Harper — the "half man" on Two and a Half Men, which he would leave due to its raunchy material before retiring from acting altogether. However, he does have six movies on his resume, including See Spot Run from 2001, 2002's The Rookie, and, in 2003, Bringing Down the House and a straight-to-video sequel to George of the Jungle as the titular jungle dweller's son.

Ross Malinger

In the 1990s, Ross Malinger led a very promising career as a child actor with 10 major film roles that included playing one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's students in Kindergarten Cop, Tom Hanks’ son in Sleepless in Seattle, and Jean-Claude Van Damme's son in 1995's Sudden Impact. However, despite many other TV credits, such as voicing T.J. on Recess, he did not star in very many other films and, according to THR, grew up to manage a car dealership.

Barret Oliver

One of the top child actors of the 1980s was Barret Oliver, who had memorable starring roles like Bastion in The NeverEnding Story, the eponymous android from D.A.R.Y.L., David in the Cocoon movies, and Vincent from Tim Burton's original Frankenweenie short. After acquiring a total of 10 major motion picture releases on his resume, he stopped acting in 1989 and now works as a a photographer who specializes in 19th-century printing processes.

Alisan Porter

Modern audiences might recognize Alisan Porter best for winning Season 10 of The Voice. Before then, she starred in seven well-known films, such as Ron Howard's Parenthood and John Hughes' Curly Sue in the title role.

Danny Lloyd

Danny Lloyd has only been in three movies: Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror movie classic The Shining, a made-for-TV film called Will: The Autobiography of G. Gordon Liddy from 1982, and 2019's Doctor Sleep. However, Mike Flanagan's sequel to The Shining only featured him in a small cameo instead of seeing him reprise his role as psychic Danny Torrance, who was then played by Ewan McGregor.

Lisa Jakub

Amid numerous TV appearances, the most notable of Lisa Jakub's nine film credits include Matinee from director Joe Dante, Mrs. Doubtfire with Robin Williams, and the alien invasion movie classic, Independence Day. In 2000, she decided to walk away from acting and now makes a living as a motivational speaker.

Ben Savage

Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Fred Savage, Ben Savage got his own TV show, leading the Boy Meets World cast for seven years. However, his notable acting credits outside of playing young Cory Matthew are slim, including a film career made of just 10 titles that are not very well-known, save 1989's Little Monsters and 1994's Clifford.

Ariana Richards

As a child actor in the 1990s, Ariana Richards acquired a unique claim to fame by taking on man-eating beasts in classic monster movies Jurassic Park and Tremors. After starring in 10 features, she would go on to make a living as a painter since 2000.

Jeremy Suarez

While best known for playing Jordan Thomkins on The Bernie Mac Show, Jeremy Suarez put out 10 cinematic acting efforts, including Jerry Maguire, voicing Koda in Disney's Brother Bear, and Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie. His career slowed down the older he got and led him to pursue more normal jobs.

Carrie Henn

Carrie Henn made an impressive acting debut in one of the most iconic roles from the Alien movies, "Newt," who is discovered by Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) after becoming the sole survivor of a devastating Xenomorph attack. However, after the success of 1986's Aliens, the world never saw Henn grace the silver screen again as she would instead follow her true dream of being a teacher.

Jamie Waylett

Fans of the Harry Potter movies would surely be able to recognize Jamie Waylett as Vincent Crabbe, but they would not be able to recognize him (or spot him) from anything else. The first six installments of the coming-of-age fantasy movie franchise based on the popular book series are the only projects he has ever acted in.

Danielle Fishel

Aside from hosting Style Network's The Dish from 2008 to 2010 and co-hosting Pod Meets World with Rider Strong and Will Friedle since 2022, Danielle Fishel is best known as Topanga on Boys Meets World and, to be frank, not that much else. Her film resume is also pretty obscure and only consists of seven titles, including National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze and its sequel and 2015's Boiling Pot.

Ansel Elgort

Following his debut in the 2013 adaptation of Carrie, Ansel Elgort would go on to star in 12 other films, including The Fault in Our Stars, two Divergent movies, Baby Driver, and Steven Spielberg's West Side Story. His TV appearances are even scarcer, with his lead role on HBO's Tokyo Vice being the only small screen credit.

Luise Rainier

German actor Luise Rainier actually a relatively busy career throughout the 1930s, and even won an Academy Award for 1936's The Great Ziegfeld, but slowed down significantly beyond that decade. Between 1939 and 2003, she only appeared in three films: 1943's Hostages, 1997's The Gambler, and 2003's Poem: I Set My Foot Upon the Air and It Carried Me, bringing her grand total to 14.

Charlie Korsmo

Before becoming a lawyer, Charlie Korsmo had a short but impressive run in movies like Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy, Steven Spielberg's Hook, and the party movie favorite, Can't Hardly Wait. He would return to acting a few times to appear in 2018's Chained for Life and his ninth movie, A24's A Different Man in 2024.

Gina Carano

Gina Carano starred in 13 films, including Haywire, Deadpool, and Fast and Furious 6, but her biggest acting role would be Cara Dune from The Mandalorian. However, the former MMA star's career would slow down after she exited the Star Wars spin-off series following controversial social media posts.

Considering just how hard it is to make in show business, it's remarkable how many celebrities have been good friends with other successful celebrities since before either was famous. Some going back to childhood. Here's our list of celebrities that have been friends for longer than they've been famous. 

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck

It’s probably the most famous friendship in Hollywood. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon grew up together in Cambridge, MA, and they’ve pretty much been besties ever since. They were even uncredited extras together in Field Of Dreams and both found early roles in School Ties together. Of course, in 1997 when they wrote and starred in Good Will Hunting together, their collective fame blew up. 

Al Gore and Tommy Lee Jones

Another set of long-time friends are former Vice President Al Gore and Tommy Lee Jones. They were roommates when they attended Harvard together. At the 2000 Democratic National Convention when the party nominated Gore to be its candidate for President, Jones said in a speech,

Christopher Reeve and Robin Williams were both taken from the world when they were too young. The two have more in common than tragedy though. Reeve and Williams forged a lifelong friendship after meeting as graduate students at Juilliard and rooming together while in school. Reeve even credited Williams with showing him that life would go on after a horse riding accident left him paralyzed. 

Madonna and Debi Mazar

Entourage star Debi Mazar and global superstar Madonna have been friends since the early ‘80s when they met in the hipster scene of the East Village and the dance clubs of New York City. They stayed friends since that time and Mazar has had Madonna’s back when internet trolls take shots at the pop music legend. Mazar also appeared in a number of Madonna’s early videos, like “Papa Don’t Preach.”

Ving Rhames and Stanley Tucci

Stanley Tucci and Ving Rhames were roommates as undergrads at SUNY Purchase. Tucci even gave Rhames his nickname, Ving, which is short for Erving. Rhames let the world in on that tidbit when he presented Tucci with a Golden Globe in 1998 for Tucci’s role in Winchell. The two have only worked on the same project together once though, 1995’s Kiss of Death. 

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler and Tiny Fey first met at the improv school Improv Olympic (now known as iO Theater) in the early ‘90s when they were both just starting out. In the years since, they’ve stayed friends and worked together a lot, including on SNL and hosting the Golden Globe Awards together. 

Brad Pitt and Sheryl Crow

Brad Pitt and Sheryl Crow have known each other since college. Pitt was a year behind Crow at the University of Missouri and according to Crow, they didn’t know each other well, but they did cross paths a lot, She worked with his fraternity during Greek Week and she was friends with his college girlfriend. She also jokes on the podcast that she dreamed she would marry Brad Pitt. 

Rick Moranis and Geddy Lee

Geddy Lee was the bass player and lead singer of Rush, one of the most popular bands of the last 50 years. Weirdly, his biggest hit wasn’t with Rush but was a song called “Take Off” that appeared on a Doug and Bob McKenzie album. He sang on the track because he’s been lifelong friends with Rick Moranis, who played Doug McKenzie. The two went to grade school together. 

Lauryn Hill and Zach Braff

Lauryn Hill attended Zach Braff’s bar mitzvah. You read that right. Braff told a story to Seth Meyers (whom Braff has known since college) about his bar mitzvah being “musical theater themed” and his partner in the games the kids played was none other than Ms. Lauryn Hill, who went to high school with Braff. 

Holly Hunter and Frances McDormand

Holly Hunter and Frances McDormand first met years before they both found success in Hollywood. They even roomed together in the Bronx. While they were roommates, McDormand met Joel Coen, of the Coen Brothers, and they started dating. Eventually, they would marry and Joel and Ethan Coen would cast both McDormand and Hunter in Raising Arizona, one of many roles the Coens have cast McDormand in. 

B.J. Novak and John Krasinski

B.J. Novak and John Krasinski were in the same class in high school at Newtown South High outside Boston. They were friends long before they both starred in The Office, though in high school, according to Novak, Krasinski was more of a jock, while Novak was a theater kid. Obviously, both ended up wildly successful as actors. 

Gwyneth Paltrow and Maya Rudolph

Maya Rudolph and Gwyneth Paltrow have been friends for years. Rudolph’s father, Richard, was best friends with Paltrow’s father, Bruce, and Maya and Gwyneth attended the same school, St. Augustine by the Sea School in Santa Monica.

Adam Sandler and director Judd Apatow famously shared an apartment in Los Angeles when they were both just starting out in the industry. When Sandler landed his gig with SNL and moved to New York, he continued to pay rent on the place because he was worried he’d immediately get fired from the show. He didn’t and the rest is history. 

Lisa Kudrow and Conan O'Brien

Conan O’Brien met Lisa Kudrow in 1985 when he moved to LA out of college and decided to take an improv class. According to O’Brien, he walked into the class on his first day and immediately identified Kudrow as someone that was going somewhere. 

Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson 

Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson first met in their sophomore year at the University of Texas. Both were in a playwriting seminar and Anderson immediately was intrigued by Wilson. They have stayed close over the years and Wilson is a regular player in Anderson’s films, starring in eight of them. 

Danny DeVito and Micheal Douglas

Starting way back in 1975 Danny DeVito and Micheal Douglas have been working together. Douglas produced One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest which DeVito had a supporting role in. The two have been friends for much longer, going all the way back to 1967 when they met on beach and immediately bonded. 

Cameron Diaz and Snoop Dogg

This might be the most surprising on the list. Cameron Diaz and Snoop Dogg went to Long Beach High School together. They've known each other since they were teenagers and, according to Diaz.

Brad Pitt and Jason Priestley

Before they were stars, Brad Pitt and Jason Priestley, as roommates, apparently would have contests to see who could go the longest without showering or shaving. Somehow, they were both still really, really good looking despite this. 

Laura Linney and Brooke Shields

Star of The Blue Lagoon, Brooke Shields, and star of You Can Count on Me, Laura Linney, have been counting on each other since they were children. Brooke Shields celebrated Laura Linney's 56th birthday in 2020 by posting a throwback of the two when they were just kids. 

Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance

Courtney B. Vance and Angela Bassett got married in 1997, which was well after both had become successful. Their friendship, however, goes much further back. They met at Yale Drama School in the '80s, though both were dating other people at the time. They would reconnect years later and they've been together ever since. 

Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton

Way before they found fame together on The Simple Life, Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton were friends. According to Hilton on the show, they've been best friends since they were two years old. In September 2023, Hilton celebrated Richie's birthday by posting a bunch of photos of them through the years, from childhood to the present. 

The Great Gatsby was not the first time Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire worked together. They appeared together in This Boy's Life back in 1993. Their friendship, however, goes back even further having met early on when they were both struggling to land their first roles and auditioning for the same parts. They are still close friends. 

Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts

Technically Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts were already working actors when they met on the set of Flirting back in 1991. Neither were famous yet, and the fellow Aussies became fast friends, and have stayed very close ever since. 

Adam Levine and Jonah Hill

Adam Levine and Jonah Hill have been friends since childhood. They've often joked about each other in interviews and really seem to have a close bond. They are so close that Jonah Hill even officiated Levine's wedding in 2016. 

Kate Hudson and Liv Tyler

Liv Tyler and Kate Hudson have a lot in common, starting with all of their parents being famous themselves. They also both grew up in Los Angeles and attended the same high school together, Crossroads School for Arts & Science, where they first became buddies. They starred in Dr. T & the Women together in 2000 and are still very close friends

Jamie Dornan And Andrew Garfield

Jamie Dornan And Andrew Garfield have been mates for almost 20 years. The two were roommates in the early days of their careers, running in a pack with the likes of Charlie Cox, Robert Pattinson, and Eddie Redmayne as they struggled to land auditions. It's safe to say they've all done pretty well since then. 

Timothée Chalamet and Ansel Elgort

Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City is one of the most prestigious arts high schools in the country. It's no surprise that it has its fair share of famous former students. Two of those are Timothée Chalamet and Ansel Elgort, who were in the same class and have been best friends since attending. 

Scarlett Johansson and Jack Antonoff

Like so many others on this list, actor Scarlett Johansson and musician Jack Antonoff attended high school together. What makes them different is that they even briefly dated and went to the prom together at New York City's Professional Children’s School. They broke up after graduation, but they'll always have prom! 

Mel Gibson and Geoffrey Rush

The country of Australia is not all Mel Gibson and Geoffrey Rush have in common, When both were starving artists trying to make it early on, they shared an apartment that, according to Gibson, didn't have any furniture. A few decades later it's safe to assume both have plenty of places to sleep and sit down after all their success. 

Kristen Bell and Matthew Morrison

Kristen Bell attended the prestigious New York University's Tisch School of the Arts alongside Glee star Matthew Morrison. They were friends in college, and as Bell told Us Weekly in 2010, the two briefly dated. She told the magazine, 

David Lynch and Peter Wolf

In what might be the oddest pairing on this list, director David Lynch and musician Peter Wolf were once roommates at School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston in the 1960s. Wolf, who is famous for being the lead singer of the great J. Geils Band told The New York Times that the living situation didn't last long, as he was way too messy for Lynch. 

Kirsten Gillibrand and Connie Britton

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of Massachusetts and actor Connie Britton first met on a study-abroad trip to China while both were in college at Dartmouth. The pair have remained friends in the decades since and often post about each other on social media and of course, Britton endorsed Gillibrand when she first ran for the senate.

Actors, musicians, politicians, roommates, childhood friends, and starving artists. Each pair on this list have unique stories, that are somehow also very similar. They say birds of a feather flock together and this list of celebrities who were friends before they were famous seems to prove that point over and over.  

Britney Spears got married back in June, and not surprisingly, her wedding was one of the most talked about affairs of the entire summer. The pop star, fresh off finally ending the conservatorship and regaining control over her life, wed her boyfriend Sam Asghari in a fairytale ceremony that reportedly had about 100 guests. Who made the cut and who did not were major sources of gossip on social media and in various publications. Given her history and complicated relationships, the yes list (Paris Hilton, Madonna) and the no list (her family) seemed to make sense, but when pictures and videos started emerging, many fans were confused when they saw West Side Story actor Ansel Elgort in the background of photos. 

Did they know each other? How did he end up on such an exclusive guest list? His presence was all the more surprising because apart from some contracted press appearances for West Side Story at the end of the previous year, he’d largely stepped away from the spotlight following 2020 sexual misconduct allegations, which he denied. Several articles questioned why he was there, and several more gossiped about how he hung out with fellow celeb Selena Gomez for much of the wedding.

And then everyone promptly moved on. Between Britney Spears’ first husband crashing the wedding, her hit collaboration with Elton John, ongoing drama with her family and some of the more adult photos she posts on social media, there has been no shortage of things for the pop legend’s fans to discuss. 

I just assumed we'd never know, but then she dropped a curious post on Instagram. Reflecting on her wedding, she dropped a slideshow of pictures and on one of them featuring Elgort, she referred to him as “the main character in Baby Driver” and talked about how funny the picture is. Check out the post below…

Britney Spears isn’t always the clearest when she communicates on social media, but to me, there’s an implication in that caption that she doesn’t know Ansel Elgort’s name and finds it amusing that he was dancing at her wedding. Nothing about this post indicates there is any level of closeness between the two, which is particularly confusing considering she had 100 total people at her wedding. This wasn’t a 400 person wedding where it would be totally normal for her not to know plus ones or only be vaguely familiar with family friends who got an invite.

I thought maybe I was the only one weirded out, but the entire comment section is just as confused as I am. It’s filled with comments once again asking why he was at the wedding. Here’s one with more than a thousand likes…

I don’t have any answers here, and I’ve read into this extensively because I get emotionally invested in random stupid mysteries and can’t help myself. There are some who think Ansel Elgort may have had a connection through his father Arthur Elgort, who is a famous photographer with a lot of friends in the fashion industry. I think it’s more likely he scored an invite through Spears’ friend Paris Hilton, who is reportedly close enough to have gone on vacation with the actor. Maybe there’s a third connection we don’t know about, or maybe the two celebrities actually hang out with each other and have just never talked about it. Fingers crossed we find out someday. 

The legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg returned to theaters with his acclaimed take on West Side Story. The movie was a critical hit, and was nominated (and won) a number of honors throughout Awards Season. But there was a controversy surrounding the project due to the accusations made against Tony actor Ansel Elgort. And now his co-star Rachel Zegler explains how constantly being asked about said accusations during the press tour affected her mental health.

Back in 2020, Ansel Elgort was accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old in 2014. He denied this, claiming the relationship was consensual. Following this, a Twitter user claimed Elgort sent her nude photos when she was under age. This came after West Side Story had wrapped filming, and was a cloud that seemed to follow the movie’s press tour. Rachel Zegler was asked about the accusations a number of times, recently opened up to Elle about how hard it was at the time. As the Golden Globe winning actress explained,

While press tours are notoriously grueling for talent, Rachel Zegler’s time doing this for West Side Story seemingly had its own emotional weight to it. It sounds like being asked by journalists about Ansel Elgort’s controversy was triggering for the actress, particularly given her age. And there’s no telling how many of these interviews occurred.

For his part, Ansel Elgort was also on the press tour for West Side Story, doing on camera group interviews about his work with Steven Spielberg and company. There’s been no charges against the Baby Driver actor, who maintains he was innocent of any wrongdoing. And since the musical movie hit theaters, Elgort has also celebrate the release of a new HBO Max series, Tokyo Vice. He’s also an executive producer on the project.

Later in Rachel Zegler’s same interviews, she further explained how uncomfortable and disappointing it was to be asked about Ansel Elgort’s sexual assault allegation– which really has nothing to do with her. She explained how it mirrors the struggles of being a woman in Hollywood, in her words:

Now that Rachel Zegler has finally been honest about these complicated feelings about Ansel Elgort and West Side Story, hopefully the 20 year-old New Jersey native will be able to move past them. Professionally she’s got a number of thrilling movie projects lined up including Shazam 2, playing the title character the new Snow White, plus the animated movie Spellbound. And with a Golden Globe in hand, there’s no telling where her career might go.

Rachel Zegler can be seen in Shazam! Fury of the Gods on December 16th, while West Side Story is now available to stream from home. Be sure to check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

There are SOME SPOILERS AHEAD for 2021’s West Side Story, now playing in theaters.  

Can you believe it? The last time a West Side Story movie came out it was 1961. And, obviously it was a much different world than it is now. There have been many presidents since JFK, gas prices are well over 31 cents a gallon, and this time Steven Spielberg is the director behind an adaptation of Leonard Bernstein and the late Stephen Sondheim’s acclaimed musical. While the original has become a beloved part of movie history, and swept the Oscars with 10 trophies, a lot of time has passed and 2021’s West Side Story has changed for a new generation, with numerous improvements. 

Sometimes, no matter what a movie does, it cannot even touch its original. In the case of Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, I believe he’s cracked the code and made a rare remake that steps up the existing material, whilst also delivering some nostalgia for the first version. Let’s talk about some of the improvements that make the 2021 version better than the original.

The Musical Numbers Are Shot Rather Than Staged 

The difference I noticed right away about the new West Side Story that the original version didn’t have was how dynamic and three-dimensional each musical number is. In the 1961 movie, when you’re watching it you feel like you’re watching a musical on a stage much of the time. When characters dance and sing they remain in a specific framing and the sets feel more like a set of New York City rather than actual New York City. 

This isn’t to knock the original. The new movie reportedly cost $100 million to produce in contrast to the $6 million that it cost to make it in 1961 (give or take inflation). But, it’s really exciting to see West Side Story be given a massive scale. We’ve never seen many of these numbers this way before and Spielberg uses his incredible eye for filmmaking to create scope and an immersive experience around the musical in a way that's an absolute joy to witness. 

A Diverse (And Spanish Speaking) Cast

If you go back to the original West Side Story, the most glaring issue that makes the movie nearly unwatchable is how the Puerto Rican parts are played by white actors who are given makeup to look like they have darker skin, along with faking heavy accents. This is one of the great Rita Moreno movies, but she's the only actor of Latin descent in the main cast, being Puerto Rican. 

In the new West Side Story, all the Sharks are portrayed by Latin actors, and Steven Spielberg called for those actors to be Spanish speaking. Within the movie itself, when Spanish dialogue is spoken there are no subtitles, adding to the authenticity of the movie as well. With these improvements, the story itself is more palpable. We can understand the cultural differences being placed in the spotlight, and while watching it, I personally felt like the story sung more than it ever has before. 

The Store Owner Character Is Expanded Upon 

In the original West Side Story, Tony works at a store owned by a character named “Doc,” played by Kevin Young. He serves as the Friar Lawrence character in this Romeo & Juliet take, often attempting to give advice to the Jets throughout the movie. Doc's Drug Store is used as the meeting place and hangout spot for the Jets. However, in the new movie Doc has been replaced with his wife/widower Valentina, played by none other than Rita Moreno. 

That’s right. The actress behind Anita in the first adaptation is back to play another role. She is the confidant of Ansel Elgort’s Tony and she serves as an important figure in the musical as everything goes down between the Jets and Sharks. Valentina is a Puerto Rican who married a white man back in the day, serving as a bridge between the two groups of people. She gets to sing one of the songs, and her character nails down some important themes of the movie. 

Anybodys Is A Trans Character 

Anybodys has long been a minor but instrumental character in West Side Story. The character was played by Shelby Esler in the original movie, who has a short haircut, is a tomboy and a constant tag-a-long to the Jets. Because she is a girl, Riff and the gang constantly refuse her and send her away. Yet, later in the movie, Anybodys proves to be a helpful asset to the Jets. 

In the new movie, Anybodys is played by nonbinary actor Iris Menas, who plays a transgender version of the character. Anybodys dresses like the Jets and follows them, but they are not accepted because they are still considered a girl by everyone. It’s a great add to the existing character, and actually enriches a key moment later on. 

Anita’s Sexual Assault Scene Is Altered 

One key moment in the original West Side Story is when Anita goes to talk to Tony at Maria’s request and there’s a sequence that is suggestive of the Jets sexually assaulting her and getting ready to gang rape her before Doc comes in and sees them. It was definitely an important scene at the time, when sexual assault was not something that was regularly being depicted in major motion pictures. These days, it’s a topic that’s discussed more openly in movies and television and the 2021 West Side Story builds upon the conversation. 

In the new movie, while Ariana DeBose’s Anita is being sexually assaulted by the Jets, one of the girlfriends of the Jets shouts at them and tries to stop it from happening. And, ultimately it’s Valentina who steps in. It’s a great alteration to the moment because it shows another woman defending her, despite them acting like enemies just minutes prior. 

Tony And Maria Are More Fleshed Out Characters

Tony and Maria have always been the Romeo and Juliet of West Side Story. They're the hopeless romantics and the center of all the drama that goes down, despite being on their own love cloud as the Jets and Sharks rumble. In the new movie, both Tony and Maria are given more distinct backstories that draw them toward each other and make their time on screen more meaningful. Tony is wrestling with his past with the Jets, and Maria is somewhat rebelling from being trapped under her brother Bernardo’s expectations. 

There’s a lot more to discover within the 2021 adaptation of West Side Story itself. The movie musical is now playing in theaters and you can check out what movies are coming up during the remainder of the year with CinemaBlend’s guide to 2021 new movie releases.  

Steven Spielberg’s version of West Side Story has been a long time in the making, but it comes with plenty of amazing casting choices, beautiful set design, and wonderful music. With all the amazing West Side Story reviews that it received, the movie is destined to be remembered, and, in my opinion, will end up becoming another classic. 

And, with such a talented cast, you must have seen the actors somewhere before. If faces might look a little familiar, it’s for good reason. From veterans of the Broadway stage, to performers just starting out, and an original cast member from the 1961 movie, the West Side Story cast is full of stars. Here is where you might have seen them before, and what they’re up to now. 

Ansel Elgort (Tony) 

Ansel Elgort played Tony in West Side Story.He has been in the business for a little under a decade now, and has only continued to expand his repertoire of films.

Since 2013, Elgort has had roles in several movies, such as the 2013 Stephen King adaptation ofCarrie, the romantic drama, The Fault in Our Stars, played a major role in the Divergent movie series, and had the main role in the action thriller, Baby Driver. Elgort also had roles in movies like Billionaire Boys Club, The Goldfinch and more. 

Elgort hasn’t done much in the movie business since West Side Story, but he did star in the show Tokyo Vice, which was renewed for a second season and finished production before the 2023 WGA Strike, according to Variety.  

Rachel Zegler (Maria) 

Maria is the lovely leading lady of West Side Story, and she is portrayed by Rachel Zegler. Originally, she made strides on YouTube by posting videos of her singing, but now, this is her first major movie role, showing just how much of a talent she is. 

After her role in West Side Story, Zegler has appeared in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and will appear in the upcoming The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Zegler is also poised to play the live-action Snow White in the new  adaptation of the classic fairytale, Snow White. 

Zegler will appear in three other films – the upcoming comedy Y2K, Spellbound, and Paddington in Peru. 

Ariana DeBose (Anita)

Anita is the best friend of Maria, and the girlfriend of Bernardo, and is played by the lovely Ariana DeBose. The actress is a talented woman both on stage and off, and has shown the world not only with her wonderful acting talents, but her vocal ones, as well. For her role in West Side Story, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and was the first person of color and LGBTQ+ origin to do so in a historic win. 

DeBose starred in several musicals, including Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, A Bronx Tale, and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. But soon, she transitioned her career from stage to screen. She starred in the Ryan Murphy musical The Prom on Netflix in 2020, and was a part of Schmigadoon! cast in both Season 1 and Season 2. 

DeBose will appear next in animated form when she voices Asha in the upcoming Disney film, Wish. Aside from that, DeBose will appear in several new movies called Poolman, Argylle, House of Spoils and Kraven the Hunter.  

David Alvarez (Bernardo)

Bernardo, the brother of Maria and the boyfriend of Anita, was played by David Alvarez. The actor gained acclaim for his portrayal of Billy Elliot in the titular musical, Billy Elliot the Musical, and then also went on to star in On the Town. 

For some time while he worked in theater, Alvarez actually joined the U.S. Army. Afterwards, he returned to theater, and then moved his career to television, playing Isaac English in American Rust on Showtime. West Side Story was Alvarez’s first ever big movie role. Afterwards, he appeared in a small film short called The Stamp Collector, but he’s going to appear in a new series called Étoile. 

Mike Faist (Riff)

For every Tony, there must be a Riff, and he was played by Mike Faist in West Side Story. Faist, like many of his other castmates, made his strides on Broadway, originating the role of Connor Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen, and playing the part of Morris Delancey in Newsies. 

However, he also moved his career to movies as well, appearing in several films, such as the drama/coming of age movie The Unspeakable Act, the tragedy The Grief of Others, and the horror fantasy, Wildling. Faist has also had some success in television as well, playing Dodge Mason in the Amazon original series, Panic, with a couple of guest roles on TV, as well. 

Coming up, Faist will appear in the Austin Butler-led film The Bikeriders, as well as the sports romance Challengers alongside Zendaya and Josh O’Conner.  

Rita Moreno (Valentina) 

If you’re seeing that name and wondering why on earth it looks so familiar, that’s because it should be. There are many great Rita Moreno movies and TV shows, and she actually played Anita in the original 1961 West Side Story, winning an Academy Award for her role. After that, Moreno went on to have a long and successful career. 

She's appeared in a variety of movies, such as the comedy-drama, Carnal Knowledge, alongside Jack Nicholson, the romantic drama, The Four Seasons, the cult film, Slums of Beverly Hills, and many, many others. She’s also had bigger roles in television as well, including her part in the HBO original series, Oz, voicing the titular character of Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?, playing the matriarch of the main family in One Day at a Time on Netflix, and had a main role in the sitcom, Happily Divorced. 

Truly, she’s a master of her craft, and it’s so lovely to see her return to this world of West Side Story. While she’s not playing Anita, I love seeing her as Valentina. She’s since had a guest starring role on Lopez vs. Lopez, and was in the films 80 For Brady, The Prank, My Father’s Dragon and Fast X. She’ll next appear in a movie called Family Switch.   

Brian d’Arcy James (Officer Krupke)

You gotta love Officer Krupke, always trying to keep the peace as best he can. In West Side Story, Office Krupke was played by Brian d’Arcy James, another veteran from Broadway who has taken his career to the big and small screen. 

In theater, James has had major roles in Shrek the Musical (playing the titular character), Something Rotten!, Hamilton, Into the Woods and more. In film, he appeared in movies such as Friends with Kids, Spotlight, Sisters, Molly’s Game, First Man, and Dark Phoenix.

On television, he had a major role on the Netflix original series, 13 Reasons Why for two seasons, and played Frank Houston on Smash. D’Arcy continued his trend with television with an appearance in Evil, one of the best Paramount Plus shows, and was a part of the Love & Death cast. He also appeared in the film Devil’s Peak. He’ll appear in a new movie called Pain, as well as She Came To Me. 

Corey Stoll (Lieutenant Schrank) 

The partner to Office Krupke, Lieutenant Schrank, was played by Corey Stoll in West Side Story. Stoll has made strides in the television industry, having major roles in several big-time shows. These include, but are not limited to, playing Congressman Peter Russo in House of Cards, Dr. Ephraim Goodweather on the FX drama/horror series, The Strain, Michael Prince on the one of the best Showtime series, Billions, having a main role on Law & Order: LA, and many guest appearances. 

Stoll has also had a pretty prominent acting career in movies. He played Darren Cross in Ant-Man for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a role he also reprised in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. He also had roles in Midnight in Paris, Black Mass, First Man, and the HBO original movie, The Many Saints of Newark. 

He also held a recurring role on the series Transatlantic, and will appear in the upcoming Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire. 

Josh Andres Rivera (Chino) 

Poor Chino is the under-appreciated soul of West Side Story who was supposed to be Maria’s perfect match, but ended up getting lost in all the fuss about Tony. Chino was played by Josh Andres Rivera, who (like Rachel Zeglar herself) is also a newcomer to Hollywood. 

West Side Story was Rivera’s first major screen role. He will appear in Cat Person and will also appear in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. He is currently dating his co-star, Rachel Zegler, where they have been in films more than once together.  

Iris Menas (Anybodys)

Anybodys was a character in the original film that I didn’t quite understand when I was younger, but now it makes so much sense, and that character was perfectly portrayed in West Side Story by Iris Menas, a young non-binary performer who had their first big movie role with this musical. 

Menas has been in other projects before, including a main role in Ridley Jones, and a voice role in Madagascar: A Little Wild. They also had a voice role in the Monster High animated series, and held a voice role in Ridley Jones. They were a part of the cast of web series musical Way Down as well.  

West Side Story was certainly one of the best 2021 movies, in my opinion, and that’s thanks to this brilliant cast and their amazing acting, along with the wonderful director. And now, we can look forward to what these actors have coming up – maybe they’ll even appear on the 2023 movie schedule and 2024 movie schedule.  

Director Steven Spielberg and the cast of West Side Story, including Rachel Zegler, Ansel Elgort, Ariana DeBose, Corey Stoll, David Alverez, Mike Faist join CinemaBlend’s Corey Chichizola to discuss the iconic adaptation. They dive into Stephen Sondheim’s legacy, his last words to Spielberg just a week before his passing, working with Academy Award winner Rita Moreno, and so much more.

Video Chapters

• 00:00 - Intro 
• 00:16 - How The West Side Story Cast Feels About Stephen Sondheim’s Death And Legacy 
• 07:09 - The West Side Story Cast Explains The Importance Of Realistic Violence 
• 09:24 - Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose and More Reflect on Working With Rita Moreno 
• 13:07 - Stephen Spielberg and Corey Stoll Discuss Enhancing West Side Story’s Supporting Characters 
• 15:25 - Ansel Elgort and Mike Faist on the Difference Between Shooting for Film and Performing on Stage 
• 16:49 - Outro

In the run-up to the release of Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, the question as to why the filmmaker would take on the project as his 38th feature has been a legitimate one. Obviously there is the draw for him of making a massive, lavish musical – an arena he has never fully explored in his 57 year career – but at the same time the project is not only a remake, but a remake of a movie that won the Academy Award for Best Picture following its release in 1961. Spielberg is a director who has the industry power to make any film he wishes to make, so why tread on such hallowed ground just in the name of genre exploration?

This isn’t really a question that could be answered in advance of the film being screened, because as it turns out the only response necessary is the viewing experience of the new West Side Story. The basic plot remains the same as the classic 1957 Broadway musical, taking William Shakespeare’s Romeo And Juliet and transposing it into mid-1950s New York, but what’s accomplished as far as exploring the cinematic art form is utterly breathtaking. In his latest collaboration with screenwriter Tony Kushner and cinematographer Janusz Kamiński (among others), Spielberg has created one of his most spellbinding works to date, both visually and aurally – replete with spectacular sequences and an ensemble cast that is truly phenomenal… save for one outlier performance that proves to be a standout weak link in the chain.

Like its on-stage and on-screen predecessors, West Side Story begins with a turf war, as tensions rise between the Jets, a gang consisting primarily of white inner-city youth, and the Sharks, who represent the growing population of Puerto Rican immigrants in Manhattan’s Lincoln Square. As the city continues to develop and undergo urban renewal, ushering in a new age for the rich in New York, the very survival of the two groups becomes dependent on increased territoriality, and personality and racial tensions only serve to increase the heat between the two factions. The leaders of the two sides – Riff (Mike Faist) and Bernardo (David Alvarez) – are prepared for a fight to the death.

Stuck in the middle of this conflict are Maria (Rachel Zegler) and Tony (Ansel Elgort), a pair of star-crossed lovers who fall for one another at first sight during a school dance. Maria is Bernardo’s sister, and Tony is the former co-founder of the Jets now trying to live a peaceful life – having recently given up his leadership position after nearly killing a rival and completing a prison sentence. The couple quickly falls deeply in love and they make plans to run away together, but the feasibility of such an endeavor is questioned as warfare and violence looms palpable in the atmosphere.

Fearing for the people they care about and not wanting to leave before circumstances are settled, Maria and Tony work to deescalate the fraught relationship between the Jets and the Sharks, trying to convince them to call off the secret rumble that is scheduled as a final showdown between the gangs. But whether or not that is actually possible is a notion fraught with extreme doubt as the characters all barrel toward tragedy.

Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story is a stunning cinematic time machine that sometimes feels unreal in the energy it successfully captures.

When West Side Story was first imagined for the stage by Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents, it was a contemporary story meant to capture an energy in 1950s America. Steven Spielberg’s vision obviously changes that perspective by maintaining the setting, rendering it a period piece, but that only serves to give it access to a whole new kind of magic. It’s not just stunning (and low-key horrifying) how relevant the social themes of the piece are when looking at what we are dealing with in our society today – particularly in regards to class warfare, policing, gentrification, and immigration – but it’s done in such a way that it doesn’t feel like a recreation. Watching the film, you wonder if Spielberg got access to time travel technology and just decided not to tell anybody about it.

The remake doesn’t shy away from what it owes to the 1961 film from directors Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, as it carries over plenty of iconic imagery from the classic movie – but it builds on the material with a sweeping scope (accented with brilliant crane work by Janusz Kamiński) and is an utterly transportive experience. Everything from the production design to the costuming to the makeup bleeds with remarkable authenticity that pushes the present from your mind.

Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose are destined for incredible things in the wake of West Side Story.

One of Steven Spielberg’s genius touches in West Side Story is primarily casting his ensemble with newcomers. Not recognizing primary characters from other projects and productions serves to beautifully enhance the illusion that audiences are witnessing a window into another era. Obviously it’s a risky proposition to work with talent unproven on the big screen, but the instincts of the filmmakers prove to be phenomenal. This isn’t to say that veterans like Corey Stoll, Brian d’Arcy James and Rita Moreno don’t provide outstanding performances respectively playing Lieutenant Schrank, Officer Krupke, and Valentina (who is a reconceived iteration of the character Doc from the theatrical production/1961 movie), but it’s the fresh faces who own the film.

Ariana DeBose, who plays Anita (Maria’s best friend and Bernardo’s girlfriend), is ultimately the champion scene stealer – as she has a captivating screen presence that goes supernova during her brilliant rendition of "America" – but that in no way diminishes the female lead, as Rachel Zegler delivers a gorgeous and haunting turn as Maria that will long stick with audiences. As the two primary figures at loggerheads, Mike Faist and David Alvarez are both magnificent, and special credit must be given to Kevin Csolak, John Michael Fiumara, Jess LeProtto, Ben Cook, Myles Erlick, Patrick Higgins, and Kyle Allen as the Jets gang members who bring the house down with the “Gee, Officer Krupke” musical number.

Simply put, Ansel Elgort doesn’t get the job done as Tony in West Side Story.

Unfortunately, there is also a kind of spell-breaker in West Side Story, and his name is Ansel Elgort. The actor, best known for his turn in Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver, certainly demonstrates some wonderful vocal skills in the film, particularly in belting solo and duet numbers “Maria” and “Balcony Scene (Tonight),” but his greater presence in the ensemble feels like a wrong puzzle piece. He doesn’t merge into the movie’s magical flow like everybody else does, and it’s routinely a distraction that takes away from the character, which is a pretty big deal considering that he is the male lead. You register it as soon as he arrives in the film (which comes after a breathtaking opening sequence), and it doesn’t go away.

Achilles heel in the casting aside, the movie musical is a triumph that only a legend like Steven Spielberg could pull off, and it marks yet another impressive highlight for his iconic legacy. The ultimate answer to the question “Why would Spielberg remake West Side Story?” is “Because he can,” and watching the film you can’t help but respect that.

2021 is the year of the movie musicals, with a number of adaptations hitting the silver screen. Following the release of modern favorites like In the Heights and Dear Evan Hansen, the legendary Steven Spielberg is bringing back a classic: West Side Story. And the first full trailer reveals this colorful new take on said classic- complete with an updated script.

Anticipation for West Side Story has been steadily building since it was revealed that Steven Spielberg was behind the camera and collaborating with Oscar winning original star Rita Moreno. But footage has been limited, at least until now. Check out the trailer above, featuring more of the performances given by the likes of Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, and Ariana DeBose.

The above clip opens on newcomer Rachel Zegler, who will be playing Maria in this new version of West Side Story. She sings a few bars of the beloved song "Tonight", which is the first time we've heard her voice in official footage. The opening moments of the trailer focus on Maria's perspective; we learn about the dreams of her immigrant experience, as well as the tension with her brother Bernardo (David Alvarez). Before long Zegler is in that signature white dress, and attending the "Dance at the Gym."

Moviegoers are treated to a few moments of Maria's meet-cute with Tony (Ansel Elgort), before the trailer's story shifts from the Sharks to the Jets. And while we're meeting familiar characters like Anita and Riff, the lines are entirely new. The legendary Tony Kushner wrote the screenplay for this new West Side Story, and it should be fascinating to see how the story hits differently.

The full trailer for West Side Story really kicks into overdrive in its second half, as we are shown clips from a number of tense scenes and extravagant musical numbers. Favorite bops like "America" are shown, with Hamilton alum Ariana DeBose shining as Anita. Overall it looks like a visual spectacle, especially given Steven Spielberg's dynamic cinematography and use of bright colors. In a time where so many blockbusters are muted, this new take on West Side Story is refreshingly vibrant.

As previously mentioned, Tony Kushner helped Steven Spielberg to put his own spin on the story of West Side Story, while still seemingly having the same songs and story beats. Rita Moreno is debuting as a new character Valentina, and she's been heavily used in the marketing material thus far. It should be fascinating to see how this new screenplay helps to deepen the characters and their motivations. Still, the pressure is on considering the success of the 1961 original film.

West Side Story will leap and chassé into theaters on December 10th. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

Whenever I first hear that a film I love is getting remade, I’m always a little apprehensive. Such was the case when news first came out about West Side Story, even with the knowledge that Steven Spielberg was going to be the one behind the camera. However, the more that we have learned about this new adaptation, whether it's many of Spielberg’s frequent collaborators taking part, an exciting cast (Ansel Elgort and others) or just the chance to see the legendary musical on the big screen for the first time, there are certainly reasons to be optimistic about this new West Side Story.

West Side Story follows the star-crossed romance of Tony and Maria, as they try to bridge the rivalry between two teenage street gangs, the white Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics and Leonard Bernstein the music for the original Broadway show and the 1961 film adaptation, which was directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins and won 10 Oscars, including Best Picture.

Let’s take a closer look at what we know about the film.

West Side Story Is Steven Spielberg’s First Musical Directing Gig

We’ve seen Steven Spielberg direct almost everything from high-adventure films (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jaws) to sci-fi (E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind) to dramas (Bridge of Spies, Schindler’s List), but we’ve never seen him direct a musical.

The closest that Spielberg has ever been associated with a musical project is as an executive producer of the NBC show Smash which ran for two seasons.

Spielberg’s connection to West Side Story goes back to his childhood, when he fell in love with the 1957 Broadway production album recording, the filmmaker told Vanity Fair. “West Side Story has been that one haunting temptation that I have finally given in to.”

It’ll be interesting to see how that connection plays out on screen as the 74-year-old director is still trying new things (amid the more familiar, too).

Tony Kushner Returns To Broadway Roots In Adapting West Side Story

When Tony Kushner crosses over into film it is to work with Steven Spielberg. However, after Oscar-nominated collaborations for Munich and Lincoln, this third collaboration with Spielberg for West Side Story fits right in Kushner’s wheelhouse - Broadway.

Kushner is best known for writing the Tony-winning Angels in America, but he also has some musical experience, writing the book and lyrics for Caroline, or Change.

Kushner isn’t the only frequent Spielberg collaborator working on West Side Story. The look of the film is being crafted by frequent Spielberg cinematographer Janusz Kaminski.

Ansel Elgort And Rachel Zegler Star As West Side Story’s Star-Crossed Lovers

This West Side Story’s Tony and Maria come in the form of a well-known young actor and a complete newcomer in Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler.

Most of you are likely familiar with Elgort from either the Divergent franchise, The Fault in Our Stars or Baby Driver. And, in case you have any reservations of whether or not he can carry a Sondheim tune, he showcased some of his singing chops in a Riff-Off with Jamie Foxx on The Late Late Show With James Corden.

As for Zegler, she has no other credits listed on her IMDb page, but she won the part after Spielberg had an open casting call that saw more than 30,000 Latinx actors submit videos. After she was announced as Maria, EW compiled some of her singing highlights, including a version of “Shallow” from A Star is Born that went viral.

Now we just have to wait to see if sparks fly when they’re together on camera.

Rita Moreno, Oscar-Winner For Original Film, Returns For Remake

One of the 10 Oscars that the 1961 West Side Story film won was Best Supporting Actress for Rita Moreno as Anita. Maybe lightning will strike twice, because Moreno is set to appear in this version of West Side Story, too.

Moreno will play a brand new character called Valentina, who is said to be a reworking of the character Doc, who was Tony’s boss in the original stage and film versions.

Talking to Variety recently about the documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It, Moreno assured us all that “It’s not a cameo - it’s a real part.”

Unless something is being kept entirely under wraps, Moreno will be the only returning cast member from the 1961 film.

The West Side Story Supporting Cast Includes Corey Stoll, Brian D’Arcy James, Ariana DeBose And More

The rest of the cast isn’t anything to sniff at either. Ariana DeBose (Hamilton, The Prom) will take over the role of Anita from Rita Moreno. The rival gang leaders Riff and Bernardo, meanwhile, will be played by newer names Mike Faist and David Alvarez.

Some other faces that people are sure to recognize include Corey Stoll and Brian d’Arcy James, who will play local policemen Lieutenant Schrank and Officer Krupke.

Much of the rest of the cast will play members of either the Jets or the Sharks, and Spielberg was conscious of making sure that Latino actors and actresses made up the Sharks.

The West Side Story Release Date Was Pushed A Year Because Of The Pandemic

In a perfect world, one where the pandemic is either long gone or, better yet, never existed, we’d have already seen Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, as, originally, the film had a release date of Dec. 18, 2020.

However, as with nearly all major films in 2020, the date got shuffled. In this instance, by nearly a full year, as West Side Story is now slated to be released on Dec. 10, 2021. It’s still a long way out, so hopefully things progress as they should and we won’t have to worry about any future delays.

There was one small silver lining to the delay though …

The Remake Comes Exactly 60 Years After The Original Filmed Version

Because the new West Side Story had to be pushed from its original 2020 date, its 2021 release comes 60 years after the original. Maybe it’s fate, maybe it’s simply a 2020-induced coincidence, but it’s kind of nice symmetry. I also imagine that the team behind West Side Story will do a lot of leg work to honor both the original and build the hype for this new version.

West Side Story Is Expected To Debut In Theaters, Not On Disney+

One more thing about the release date shift. While not explicitly said, the full-year delay is likely because of the desire to have West Side Story debut on the big screen to packed theaters rather than on streaming.

West Side Story is a 20th Century Studios project, which ultimately means that it falls under Disney. Theoretically, if it wanted, Disney could have simply put West Side Story on Disney+ and done a surcharge like it did for Mulan and the upcoming Raya and the Last Dragon.

But, the December release, and the fact that Disney has been more selective as to what titles go onto streaming right away, points to a theatrical release.

That will certainly make Steven Spielberg happy, as he's been one of the biggest champions for revitalizing the theater business.

Any Steven Spielberg film is going to be a marquee event, but having it be an adaptation of an Oscar-winner and all-time classic just ramps up the excitement even more. Here’s hoping a trailer comes down the pike in the not-too-distant future to help ease the wait.

So far, all of Edgar Wright’s movies have been self-contained affairs. Sure, each entry in the Cornetto trilogy stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, but they’re all stories that can be enjoyed on their own without having seen the others. However, Wright is preparing to jump into the sequel game with Baby Driver 2, which has been in development for a little over three years now. It’s been a while since we’ve had an update on that project, but Wright has assured fans that he’s made progress putting the sequel together.

During a recent interview about his new documentary The Sparks Brothers, Edgar Wright was asked about Baby Driver 2’s progress. He responded thusly to Variety:

So there you have it: Baby Driver 2 isn’t just a movie that Edgar Wright thought about making, but then set it aside. He’s finished writing the script, an integral component of any feature film. Granted, it’s hard to say when Baby Driver 2 will be able to start rolling cameras, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic still raging. But at the very least, Wright is still interested in bringing the next chapter of getaway driver Baby’s story to life.

Along with being a critical success, Baby Driver currently ranks as Edgar Wright’s most commercially successful movie, collecting nearly $227 million worldwide off a reported $34 million budget. In addition to Ansel Elgort starring as the eponymous character, Baby Driver starred Lily James, Kevin Spacey, Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx, Eiza Gonzalez and Jon Bernthal.

In early July 2017, just a week after Baby Driver’s release, Edgar Wright revealed that Sony Pictures had asked him to think about writing a sequel. Five months later, Wright revealed that conversations about making Baby Driver 2 happen were unfolding, and by July 2019, Ansel Elgort stated that the filmmaker had shown him an earlier draft of the script. Elgort is next set to appear as Tony in the West Side Story remake, but given the sexual assault allegations that were directed against the actor in June 2020, it’s unclear if the plan is still for him to reprise Baby in Baby Driver 2, or if Wright is considering recasting the role.

Regardless, even though we’re a long ways from Baby Driver 2 being placed in front of our eyeballs, that doesn’t there will be a lack of Edgar Wright content in the near future. In addition to The Sparks Brothers surely finding a home somewhere following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Wright also has Last Night in Soho coming in the fall. The horror movie follows a young woman who somehow finds herself in 1960s London and meeting her idol, only for time to start falling apart with shady consequences. The cast includes Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, Matt Smith, Terence Stamp and the late Diana Rigg.

Last Night in Soho is slated to come out on October 22, 2021, and once more concrete information concerning Baby Driver 2 is announced, we here at CinemaBlend will let you know. For now, our 2021 release schedule is available for your perusal.

Many were surprised this week when a Twitter user alleged that Ansel Elgort had sexually assaulted her when she was 17. The Baby Driver and The Fault in Our Stars actor had remained relatively quiet on the situation, but he has now issued a response to the allegations.

Ansel Elgort took to his Instagram account to issue a message about the alleged incident. The actor expressed that he was surprised to see the news circulating and that he couldn’t begin to understand what the young woman, Gabby, is feeling. He then went on to say that her account of the events is “simply not what happened” before discussing their relationship further:

Gabby, who didn’t give her last name, originally posted a now-deleted tweet on Friday in which she detailed her relationship with Ansel Elgort. The text note, entitled “my story of Ansel Elgort,” alleges that she met Elgort, who she says was in his 20s at the time, after sending him a private DM on his Snapchat account. She also admitted that she didn’t expect to get a response from the actor.

It’s unclear as to when the alleged assault occurred, though Gabby notes that she was “sobbing in pain” and had mentally disassociated herself during the alleged incident. She also alleges that she was told not to tell anyone about the incident because it could “ruin his career” and says she’s currently suffering from PTSD and panic attacks.

The young woman also alleges that Ansel Elgort asked her for nude photos and suggested the two have a threesome with one of her friends, who was underage at the time. In her post, she also included a photo that allegedly shows her and Ansel Elgort together, though her face is partially blurred by her hand.

Gabby writes that she decided to speak out on the alleged assault because she’s finally “ready to talk about it and finally heal” and to let other women know they’re not alone.

At this point in time, Gabby has not released any further details, and Ansel Elgort has not responded beyond this social media post. Keep it here at CinemaBlend for more updates on this matter as they arrive.

The dystopian young adult novel series genre has given birth to a number of big stars and Divergent is no exception. Based on the trilogy of books by Veronica Roth, the film and its sequels, about a teen whose condition makes her unfit to live in any of the five separate factions her post-apocalyptic society is divided into, made household names out of stars Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, to name a few, who have since diverged relatively far from their franchise counterparts.

What about the rest of the cast? Of course, Kate Winslet and Ashley Judd were already big-time, award-winning stars before starring in Divergent and Zoë Kravitz is everywhere now, but I cannot recall, for instance, the last place I saw Theo James. Not to mention, it has been a while since Jai Courtney has shown up in five movies a year. What’s happening there?

For those who have not been keeping up with the cast of your other favorite YA Novel movie adaptation, I think I can help fill in the gaps. The following is a rundown of the Divergent actors’ careers since they went factionless.

Shailene Woodley (Tris Prior)

After making waves on the teen drama The Secret Life of the American Teenager and 2011 film The Descendants, Shailene Woodley led the cast of Divergent as Tris Prior, a teen born with the titular affliction that makes her a threat to her dystopian society. She has remained a major threat in Hollywood since, playing Edward Snowden's lover in Oliver Stone's biopic, earning her second Golden Globe nomination for HBO hit Big Little Lies, and braving the desolate ocean in the 2018's Adrift.

In addition to being brave for the ocean in collaboration with Greenpeace and helping victims of anxiety with her own charity, Woodley has a number of exciting acting projects in the works, including the 1960s London-set romance Last Letter from Your Lover and voicing her first animated character as the lead in ScaryGirl, alongside Divergent alum Jai Courtney.

Theo James (Four)

English actor Theo James became known to American audiences as Tobias "Four" Eaton in Divergent and, yet he never had a role quite as big as the Dauntless member with a serious crush on Tris Prior. Despite this, he has been a part of numerous high-profile projects, including many Netflix original properties such as post-apocalyptic action film How It Ends and a trio of fantasy series: The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, The Witcher, and Castlevania. Additionally, in 2018, he starred in a musical audio drama adaptation of H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, landed the male lead role of a 2019 Masterpiece Theater rendition of Jane Austen's Sandition, and recently wrapped filming on Archive, scheduled to release in 2021, in which he plays an engineer developing a human-like AI.

Kate Winslet (Jeanine Matthews)

When she joined the cast of Divergent, Kate Winslet was, essentially, the biggest name attached to the project, mostly due to her unforgettable role in one of the biggest cinematic hits of all time, Titanic. After her character, the ruthless Erudite leader Jeanine Matthews, met a bitter end in the 2015 sequel Insurgent, the Oscar-winner received her seventh nod from the Academy as Johanna Howard in Steve Jobs, tried to help Will Smith get over his grief in 2016's Collateral Beauty, and struggled to survive the wildness with Idris Elba in The Mountain Between Us, to name a few. In the future, the English actor will be seen in a 19th Century romance with Saoirse Ronan in Ammonite, provide the voice of the equestrian title character of a Black Beauty reboot, and is reuniting with James Cameron for Avatar 2.

Ansel Elgort (Caleb Prior)

While he played Shailene Woodley's brother in the Divergent films, Ansel Elgort's biggest claim to fame at time would be playing her lover in The Fault in Our Stars the following year. Yet, the 26-year-old has since grown out of young adult novel adaptations (mostly), especially after playing the lead of Edgar Wright's dazzling action thriller Baby Driver: a role that also allowed him to show off his lesser-known musicianship, which director Steven Spielberg put to the ultimate test in his remake of West Side Story, which is set to come in December 2020. Other than continuing to moonlight as a rapper, Elgort is preparing for his first television role as the lead in the drama series Tokyo Vice and starring alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Zendaya in the crime thriller Finest Kind.

Miles Teller (Peter Hayes)

Another actor who has been romantically involved with Shailene Woodley (onscreen, that is) is Miles Teller, whose relationship with her character in 2013's The Spectacular Now is a far cry from Tris Prior's relationship with Peter Hayes, a hot-headed Dauntless transfer and one of Divergent's main antagonists. At least it was a role that the Whiplash star could have channeled his own personal distaste for the material into and would pave the way for more grounded projects, such as boxer Vinny Pazienza in sports biopic Bleed for This, a solider suffering from PTSD in Thank You for Your Service, and a first responder taking on a historic wildfire in Only the Brave. Teller will appear in, arguably, his biggest role to date as the son of Goose in Top Gun: Maverick and reunite with Woodley in After Exile, playing a man guilty of manslaughter who seeks redemption.

Zoë Kravitz (Christina)

Like Peter Hayes, Christina (played Zoë Kravitz) also transferred from the Candor faction to Dauntless, but, unlike Peter, she happened to get along very well with Tris Prior. The daughter of Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet, who has also dabbled in making music as the frontwoman of two bands in the past decade, has only gotten bigger since starring in Divergent, from playing a refugee slave wife in Mad Max: Fury Road, Leta Lestrange in the Fantastic Beasts series, and sharing the screen once again with Shailene Woodley in the scandalous HBO drama Big Little Lies. Other than starring as the gender-flipped lead of the Hulu original series adaptation of Nick Hornby's novel High Fidelity, Kravitz recently followed in her step-father, Jason Momoa's, footsteps by being cast as an iconic DC character, Catwoman, in Matt Reeves' highly anticipated reboot, The Batman.

Ben Lloyd-Hughes (Will)

Christina’s love interest, who actually sacrificed his own life for Tris Prior's benefit, was a former Erudite transfer name Will, played by Ben Lloyd-Hughes. Divergent is easily the British actor's biggest role to date, particularly to American audiences, despite a plentiful filmography following the dystopian hit, such starring alongside Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin in the charming romantic drama Me Before You, playing Florence Pugh's brother in the Netflix exclusive horror thriller Malevolent, and appearing as various characters in the made-for-TV Oscar Wilde biopic The Importance of Being Oscar. Lloyd-Hughes recently wrapped filming The King's Daughter, also staring Pierce Brosnan and his Skins co-star Kaya Scodelario, and is preparing for a role in a miniseries called Industry, which is set during the aftermath of the 2008 economic collapse.

Maggie Q (Tori)

The first person to learn of Tris’ divergence is Tori, played by Maggie Q, who was certified badass long before Divergent, from her amusing henchwoman role in Live Free or Die Hard and playing the titular assassin of TV series Nikita. The Hawaiian actress moved on to play characters less involved with physical combat (in live action projects, specifically), such as on the ABC political drama Designated Survivor and Blumhouse's reboot of Fantasy Island, but she kicks plenty of butt from the comfort of a recording studio as the voice of Wonder Woman on the beloved animated series Young Justice. She will explore various kinds of genres in future films, including horror thriller Death of Me, a comedy about a couple's obsessed with settling their dispute called The Argument, and Long Gone Heroes, a war film also set to star Guy Pearce and Sir Ben Kingsley.

Jai Courtney (Eric)

Since and (even before) playing the sadistic Dauntless inductee trainer Eric in the Divergent series until his demise in the second chapter, Jai Courtney has seemingly been on a steadily committed journey to join the legacy of as many film franchises as possible, playing John McClane's secret agent son in A Good Day to Die Hard, landing a small role opposite Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher, and filling the role of Kyle Reese in Terminator Genisys along the way. In what is arguably his most fitting role to date, the Aussie actor will reprise DC villain Captain Boomerang in The Suicide Squad, which director James Gunn has described as neither a sequel nor a reboot, and will voice Dr. Maybee in the Shailene Woodley led animated film Scarygirl.

Are you now eager to revisit Divergent again, or are you just eager to seek out the cast’s further endeavors? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for more information on the sci-fi series and updates on actors from your favorite movies and TV shows here on CinemaBlend.

Because of The Inside Times, we are in a bit of a pop culture dry spell. Television is slowing down earlier than usual, movies aren't getting released into theaters, and celebrities, who are usually out and about and doing intriguing things for us to talk about, are stuck at home just like the rest of us. But! This has meant that our favorite famous folks are using social media to do some of the wild things they might otherwise do in public, or have just taken all their mysterious actor / actress behavior online for us to see. Ansel Elgort has now posted a nude photo for charity, and, yes, people do have things to say about it.

Ansel Elgort has put his, um, charitable nature on full display for us by posting an artful nude photo to his Instagram, in the hopes of getting people to donate to charity. Let's take a look at a Twitter screenshot of his original post (because he had to take it down), and then we can discuss people's thoughts in a bit. Hold on to your goldfinches, because here we go!

Well. I guess we know what's driving this baby...Charity! It's charity, you guys. Get your minds out of the gutter, OK? As you can likely imagine, such a thing would pretty much never go unnoticed, but now that we don't have the usual glut of entertainment and celebrity gossip to fuel our days and nights, people are being especially chatty on social media about Ansel Elgort's naked desire to assist in fundraising efforts. My favorite comment on his post comes from a noted purveyor of such things. Nudity, I mean; not fundraising efforts...

Wooooo, boy. Someone has gotten all hot under the metaphorical collar because of Ansel Elgort's post, amirite? And, I say "metaphorical" only because the people at PornHub don't wear clothes...do they? At any rate, it's pretty easy to tell that lots of fans are getting hot somewhere on their bodies because of Elgort's fashionably undressed pose, because this comment had over 3,000 likes when I screenshot it. Nice work getting folks to talk, Mr. Elgort.

In fact, some people are actually finding themselves to be pretty torn over this whole nudity-for-charity thing. But, it might still be good for the cause Elgort is trying to raise cash for...

I mean, I get it. You have an actor whose work and talent you respect and it seems a bit odd for them to do something so unabashed. Also, though? You like wet, naked people. So, naturally, it's going to lead to some conflicting feelings. For quite a few fans, though, the product of Ansel Elgort's philanthropy simply left them floored:

Some people actually have questions about the content of the photo. I, for one, was wondering where this picture was even taken, because it doesn't look like a real shower to me. Then I noted the shingling on the surrounding area, and figured that it was probably an outdoor shower near a pool or something. Others had more specific queries, which led to an entire line of questioning. Oh, my word...I'll just show you the tweets:

I mean, I really don't get this at all. Why would there need to be tucking? Ansel Elgort's hand is placed as it is for a pretty clear reason. Do these folks just know something that I don't? This feels like a question for RuPaul. Mr. Charles, are you out there? Help a sister out so that I may dig myself out of this nudity-filled hole!

Overall, most people have pretty positive things to say, and feel like Elgort's effort to raise money is worthy of all the attention it's getting:

And, they're applauding his selfless, thirst trappy commitment to helping out during these difficult times...

If you need an excuse to further investigate Ansel Elgort's natural given talents, feel free to check out his page and the charity he's hoping to raise money for. You can see Elgort and whatever is either hiding behind his hand or artfully tucked dance their way through West Side Story, which is currently scheduled to open on December 18.

Movie musicals are a tried and true genre in the film world. Plenty of these projects have gone on to critical and box office success, often earning Oscars in the process. There are some great musicals heading to theaters, chief among them being Steven Spielberg's upcoming remake of West Side Story. The original 1961 movie of the same title is a beloved part of American film history, with the remake bringing back Oscar winner Rita Moreno for a new role. And now the first stills from the movie have arrived, including a look at Baby Driver star Ansel Elgort as Tony.

News of the new West Side Story movie was an exciting one, especially with the legendary Steven Spielberg at the helm of the upcoming musical remake. Spielberg found a cast of new and familiar faces to populate his version of the beloved Broadway musical. Broadway and film talent will combine, and the first stills from the West Side Story remake is colorful and exciting. Check it out below.

Mambo! Someone cue the music, because I am so ready to dive into this new West Side Story. Steven Spielberg's upcoming adaptation looks like a love letter to Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins' original, while also bringing something unique to theaters. Is it December yet?

These first West Side Story stills comes to us from 20th Century Studios, as the studio has been renamed with Disney acquired 20th Century Fox and its subsidiaries. The majority of the images come from the iconic "Dance at the Gym" sequence, where Tony and Maria meet for the first time. While their respective gangs are keeping to themselves and having a dance off, the young couple meets eyes from across the gym and fall in love at first sight. Unfortunately, it was going to be a rocky road for the young lovers.

Tony and Maria will be played by Ansel Elgort and newcomer Rachel Zegler respectively. This duality in star power is consistent throughout Steven Spielberg's West Side Story cast, and has the chance to launch the career of actors who will be making their big screen debut. Original star Rita Moreno is playing a character written for her named Valentina, while House of Cards' Corey Stoll and 13 Reasons Why actor Brian D'Arcy James will play Lieutenant Schrank and Officer Krupke. Hamilton breakout Ariana DeBose will also star as Anita.

These first images from the new West Side Story are exciting and kinetic. The movement and choreography of the movie are highlighted in the majority of these images, which features the cast dancing to the movie's iconic score. The new movie is choreographed by Justin Peck, who won a Tony Award for his work on the 2018 Broadway revival of Carousel.

West Side Story recently returned to Broadway, in a reimagined revival. The new staging abandons the show's original choreography and even iconic songs like "I Feel Pretty", and also re-examines the issues of race and prejudice through a modern lens. The movie was the subject of some backlash, before Broadway shut down amid concerns over COVID-19.

Steven Spielberg's West Side Story is currently set to arrive in theaters on December 18th. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

The Toronto Film Festival is an exciting part of the film world's calendar year, as plenty of new movies and Oscar hopefuls make their debut each year. Plenty of amazing filmmaking talent made their way to TIFF 2019, and John Crowley's The Goldfinch is certainly no exception. Based off the best-selling novel of the same name, Crowley's drama follows the life of Theo Decker, in the wake of a bombing that kills his mother and sends his life into chaos. The movie follows Theo are two different ages, with a pair of actors sharing the role.

John Crowley had an interesting challenge in adapting The Goldfinch for film, especially when it comes to the movie's non-linear storytelling. While Donna Tartt's 2013 novel told the story chronologically, Crowley constantly pivots between the two timelines, slowly unravelling Theo's long and sordid history in the process. I recently spoke to the director at TIFF, where he explained this choice. Check out his explanation below.

Well, that's quite the explanation. It seems that using two distinct timelines allows The Goldfinch to have a more cinematic quality. Additionally, it gave context to Theo's actions in the present, once his past was revealed.

As John Crowley explained to me in the above video, he approached The Goldfinch's nonlinear storytelling first from the writing perspective. Peter Straughan wrote the screenplay, and needed to be specific about how each timeline was used in the upcoming drama. Adult Theo (Baby Driver's Ansel Elgort) doesn't make his debut until the second act of the movie's runtime, allowing the audience to truly understand who he was as a young man at the time of his mother's death. But while the movie gives the adult version its full attention after wrapping up his childhood story, The Goldfinch continues to tell both stories until its very last frame.

In addition to the writing process, John Crowley specifically mentioned the editing process for The Goldfinch, and how that factored into splitting the film's run between two time periods. The film adaptation had to be careful about its runtime, which comes in at a fairly long 149 minutes. Each timeline was used methodically, to portray Theo's emotional landscape throughout his life, and how that effected his choices over the years.

Related: 10 Highly Anticipated Movies Screening For TIFF 2019

Young Theo is played by Pete's Dragon star Oakes Fegley, who is the original protagonist of The Goldfinch. The movie picks up shortly after Theo survives a horrifying bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, an attack which kills his mother. The trauma and guilt of this event dictates Theo's choices throughout his life. It also sends his life careening, as he makes his way to various temporary homes.

The non-linear narrative allows adult Theo to constantly reflect upon his traumatic childhood, especially the bombing itself. Details about the protagonist's life and motivations are slowly peeled away by this form of storytelling, although John Crowley and crew had to be very specific about how they balanced both timelines that The Goldfinch follows.

You can judge for yourself when The Goldfinch arrives in theaters on September 13, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

When Edgar Wright's Baby Driver hit theaters back in 2017, audiences and critics were floored. The film boasts a killer soundtrack, an immensely likable protagonist and an infectious energy that entertained and enthralled countless viewers. It's a special movie made by an incredibly talented director, and people immediately wanted more.

Well, now we have an update from Ansel Elgort, the star of the film and one of the most reliable sources of information regarding its sequel. It's one of the only real developments we've caught wind of since Edgar Wright teased the sequel on the film's one-year anniversary. Now, Elgort says a script exists and he's seen it.

Ansel Elgort revealed to Josh Horowitz of MTV News that Edgar Wright has a Baby Driver 2 script written and has shared it with him. Check out what the sought-after young actor said about the film:

Baby Driver easily ranks among Ansel Elgort's best roles (which is incredibly impressive, considering his filmography), so it's amazing to hear that a sequel is on most likely on the way. Elgort seems to be exercising some caution when talking about the film, especially during this particular interview. Not counting Edgar Wright, Elgort was probably among hte first to get his hands on the script. That means the film is still in the development stage, so Elgort probably should be keeping mum when asked about the film.

Because he is the movie's lead, there was a lot riding on him turning in a memorable performance. Fortunately, looking at the overall Baby Driver consensus, he exceeded expectations. He may have even out-acted Kevin Spacey, Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx, who also appeared in prominent roles in the film. The film's cast is actually pretty stacked. Heck, even Edgar Wright cameoed in the film. It was an accident, but still super hilarious. Oh, and even Meryl Streep was involved in the film, too.

No one but Edgar Wright and select cast members know anything about Baby Driver 2 so far, which is both exciting and frustrating. Give us something to chew on, dang it.

Baby Driver 2 (or whatever it's going to be called) currently has no release date, no production start date and no real information it's willing to divulge. Still, color us excited and fingers crossed it gets underway soon. You can't tease us and then just change subjects. Not cool, even though they can really do whatever they want.

Baby Driver is now available on DVD, Digital, Blu-Ray, and 4K. Check out our 2019 release schedule to learn what movies are coming out later this year.

After Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch became a literary hit in 2014, which included it winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Andrew Carnegie Medal, it seemed like only a matter of time before a film version would come. Warner Bros swiftly struck a deal shortly after it was published and an adaptation is coming to the big screen this fall, with Baby Driver’s Ansel Elgort, Nicole Kidman and Sarah Paulson leading the drama.

Check out the intriguing and emotional first look at The Goldfinch with its trailer below:

As a good trailer should, this establishes the tone and interest in the movie without giving too much away about what audiences are in for. Ansel Elgort leads The Goldfinch as Theo Decker, a young man haunted by the day his mother was killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City while he was was 13 years old.

The film’s title references the priceless painting the mother and son gaze upon right before the bombing which Theo takes and keeps with him throughout his life journey chronicled in the film.

The Goldfinch trailer flashes between Theo’s past and present, carefully unraveling his personal tragedy and how it alters his life. He comes across various characters, including a childhood friend named Boris, played by Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard as a kid and replaced by Dunkirk’s Aneurin Barnard as they grow older.

The cast also includes Nicole Kidman as Mrs. Barbour, who is his caretaker for sometime, along with Luke Wilson, who plays his problematic dad who has a girlfriend named Xandra (Sarah Paulson). Westworld’s Jeffrey Wright appears as Hobie, an unlikely friend to Theo during his time of loss.

Along with The Goldfinch having an impressive cast, behind the scenes is John Crowley as director, who previously helmed the Oscar-nominated drama Brooklyn. The script was written by Peter Straughan, whose other credits include Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Frank and The Snowman. The movie was also produced by Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, who worked on Crazy Rich Asians, American Crime Story and Ben is Back together.

The Goldfinch novel was over 700 pages long, so the movie is tackling a ton of material for one film. It was previously considered for a miniseries, but the project ultimately landed with Warner Bros and Amazon Studios.

The Goldfinch certainly looks to showcase an especially good performance for Ansel Elgort, who broke out in 2014 with his Fault in Our Stars and Divergent roles. The 25-year-old actor will also star in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake coming in December 2020.

The drama is opening alongside crime comedy Hustlers, starring Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Stiles and Lili Reinhart, about a group of former strippers who band together to steal from their Wall Street clients on September 13. Both films will go up against IT Chapter 2’s second weekend at the box office.

Are you excited to see The Goldfinch? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Every once in a while, a movie comes along with such an awesome soundtrack that it can even overshadow the rest of the film. Sometimes the songs can be huge hits all on their own. Baby Driver is a perfect example, because let’s be honest, the music is central to the movie’s plot about a getaway driver for a bank robbery crew with tinnitus. The driver, named Baby, constantly listens to music to drown out the ringing in his hears, so music is key.

The music is not only central to the plot, but because the song choices are so cool, it adds almost all the style to the movie. Every scene and every car chase are elevated by the fantastic song choices made by director Edgar Wright and Steven Price, Baby Driver’s music composer. Music, driving, and stealing sunglasses are what makes Baby tick.

There are 30 tracks on the soundtrack, ranging from solid gold oldies to very modern choices and everything in between, so we’ve ranked from worst to best – but make no mistake, there really aren’t any bad songs in the lot.

30. “Was He Slow (Credit Roll Version)” – Kid Koala Featuring Kevin Spacey And Jon Bernthal

One of two original songs on the soundtrack and as is clear from the title, it’s the song over the end credits. It’s just a mishmash of quotes from the movie and the weakest song on the Baby Driver soundtrack.

29. “Tequila” – The Button Down Brass Band

An off-brand cover of the The Champs song from 1958 by an off-brand British copy of Herb Albert & The Tijuana Brass. Easily ignored on Baby Driver’s great soundtrack.

28. “Unsquare Dance” – Dave Brubeck

This jazz number by the great Dave Brubeck is mostly clapping, drums, and bass. It works great to build tension; it’s not so great to listen to on its own.

27. “The Edge” – David McCallum

There is a lot of great jazz on the Baby Driver soundtrack, but this isn’t the best of the bunch. It is however, the sample for Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode,” which does make it pretty cool from that angle.

26. “Debora” – T. Rex

It’s difficult putting a band as awesome as T. Rex toward the bottom, at least for me, but this isn’t the band's best song by a mile.

25. “Easy” – Sky Ferreira

"Easy" is a decent enough cover of The Commodores classic (which also appears in the movie), but it’s not deserving of being higher on this list of great songs.

24. “Intermission” – Blur

Like T. Rex, it’s hard to rank an amazing band like Blur this low on a ranked list, but this song is really kind of a throwaway from the group's album Modern Life Is Rubbish and serves as an intermission on the album; in Baby Driver, the buildup of sound is used well, however.

23. “Kashmere” – Kashmere Stage Band

This funky number, played by a bunch of high school students no less, is a fantastic feel-good and move-your-feet kind of song. This stuff's starting to get good!

22. “Every Little Bit Hurts” – Brenda Holloway

Motown’s Brenda Holloway is one of the lesser-known artists on that label’s legendary roster, but this song goes to show how great Motown was at producing incredible songs.

21. “Know How” – Young MC

Any song that samples “The Theme From Shaft” by Isaac Hayes is cheating. But it’s the best kind of cheating and Young MC nailed it with this one.

20. “Bongolia” – Incredible Bongo Band

This may seem as if it is ranked a little high on the list; regardless, Incredible Bong Band’s music always sounds awesome on soundtracks.

19. "Smokey Joe’s La La" – Googie Rene

Such a fun little tune with easy lyrics and great beat to drive to. Play it now if you don't know it off the top of your head.

18. “B.A.B.Y.” - Carla Thomas

Carla Thomas is a soul singer who has sadly been overshadowed over the years, but her powerful voice is on full display in this 1966 hit.

17. “Brighton Rock” – Queen

This is circus music from Queen. It’s a weird little song that is often overlooked in the band's catalog, but it’s a great song with a great solo by Brian May – which is like half the track!

16. “Early in the Morning” – Alexis Korner

Alexis Korner is way more important to rock history than most people realize and this dripping, plotting, sweat-soaked track is weird and awesome and a great addition the Baby Driver soundtrack.

15. “Baby Driver” – Simon & Garfunkel

It’s pretty clear that this song inspired the whole movie. It’s not the most recognizable tune by this famous duo, but just check out the first couple lyrics to see how important this song is to the movie:

I was born one dark gray morn

With music coming in my ears

They call me Baby Driver

And once upon a pair of wheels

I hit the road and I'm gone

14. “Chase Me” – Danger Mouse Featuring Run The Jewels And Big Boi

"Chase Me" is the other of the two original songs on the Baby Driver soundtrack. This is by far the better one, with great performances by all three MCs and a great beat from Danger Mouse.

13. “Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)” – The Detroit Emeralds

Another track on the Baby Driver soundtrack that is more famous for being the sample in a hip hop song. This is used by De La Soul in “Say No,” but the original is fantastic.

12. “Harlem Shuffle” – Bob & Earl

This song is mostly famous for the horn fanfare that opens it (and was very famously sampled by House Of Pain), but it should be known for much more. The horns are fantastic throughout the whole song.

11. “Neat Neat Neat” – The Damned

In a movie with so much chaos, Baby Driver needed at least one chaotic punk song and this is one by a band that isn’t as well known as The Sex Pistols, brings a bit of the drama and anger that Johnny Rotten brought with the Pistols, but with more musical talent.

10. “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby” – Sam & Dave

There is nothing quite like that old time soul like Sam & Dave were the masters of.

9. “Never, Never Gonna Give You Up” – Barry White

The great Barry White and his silky smooth bass/baritone voice is unmatched in 20th century music. Honestly, anytime it appears anywhere, it’s one of the best.

8. “Radar Love” by Golden Earring

Okay, this song might not deserve to be in the top ten usually, but “Radar Love” is one of -- if not the -- greatest driving song of all time and Baby Driver is a movie about driving, right? Seriously, put this one next time you hit the highway and hit the gas, that’s why it’s here.

7. “Egyptian Reggae” – Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers

This little weird ditty by the godfather of punk Jonathon Richman fits so perfectly in this movie it’s almost like it was written for it.

6. Bellbottoms – Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

While it’s not the best song in the movie (though it is awesome), it’s the most important song as it sets the tone right away for Baby Driver. Car chases and great music abound.

5. “Debra” – Beck

Beck loves to show off sides of him you’d never expect and “Debra” is Beck channeling his inner Prince, falsetto and all, to outstanding results. This really is close to perfect.

4. “Let’s Go Away For Awhile” – The Beach Boys

If you are going to be including The Beach Boys on a soundtrack, choosing something from Pet Sounds is never a bad idea. Brian Wilson’s musical genius is on full display with this American classic.

3. “Nowhere To Run” – Martha And The Vandellas

"Nowhere to Run" is of the greatest Motown songs from the sixties,period. It’s so catchy and wonderful, it’s like you know the lyrics before you’ve ever heard it. It’s a song that's impossible to ever get sick of and it were used in every movie ever, that’d be just fine. It’s a fantastic addition to the Baby Driver soundtrack.

2. “Hocus Pocus” – Focus

This is one of those songs that always makes everything awesome, whether it’s the scene in Baby Driver or a Nike Commercial, “Hocus Pocus” by Focus (yes, you have to say the full title and band name every time, because it’s awesome), makes the world a cooler place.

1. “Easy” – The Commodores

The easy pick? Probably. Not much needs to be said about this absolute classic of a song. Is there a person on earth that doesn’t like it? It’s just easy like Sunday morning and that's alright with us.

Every good car chase needs great music and in Baby Driver, a movie with lots of car chases, the music is crucial to making them as wonderful as they are. Next time you steal a car or rob a bank, pop in your earbuds blast this soundtrack. Let's hope when they make another one, the soundtrack will be just as good.

With Ready Player One well behind him, Steven Spielberg was next expected to tackle Indiana Jones 5 and have it ready to go by July 2020. However, it was announced this past summer that the next Indy adventure has been delayed to July 9, 2021 due to script issues. Since we'll have to wait even longer for Harrison Ford to don the fedora and wield the whip again, it seems that Spielberg is now turning to his other high-profile project, the West Side Story remake. The movie has taken a major step forward by casting Baby Driver star Ansel Elgort as its male lead.

Performing the same role once occupied by Larry Kert on stage and Richard Beymer in the 1961 cinematic adaptation, Ansel Elgort will play Tony in the West Side Story remake. Steven Spielberg has been spending most of the year looking for the actors to lead his version of West Side Story, and according to THR, there was concern that because the search was taking so long, the remake might be shelved, just like Spielberg's other long-in-development project The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara. But now that Elgort has been secured, West Side Story is on track to start rolling cameras in summer 2019, and presumably we'll learn who's filling out the rest of the cast in the coming weeks and months.

Ansel Elgort rose to prominence in 2014 for his roles in Divergent, The Fault in Our Stars and Men, Women & Children. However, arguably his biggest film role yet was in last year's Baby Driver, which was directed by Edgar Wright and saw Elgort playing a tinnitus-stricken getaway driver who used music to focus. Elgort most recently appeared in Billionaire Boys Club, and next year he'll be seen in The Goldfinch, the adaptation of Donna Tartt's same-named novel. Along with his acting, Elgort has built a solid musical career, and West Side Story will mark his first major opportunity to showcase his singing talents.

Like the original West Side Story stage production (which was written by Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim, with Leonard Bernstein handling the music) and the 1961 movie that followed, Steven Spielberg's take will be a Romeo and Juliet-like tale set in New York City that follows the feuding Jets and Sharks gangs, with Tony part of the Jets and his love Maria being the sister of the Sharks' leader. One would imagine that Maria will be the next character to be cast for this new West Side Story, but we'll have to wait and see. Tony Kushner penned this latest adaptation, and Spielberg, Kevin McCollum and Kristie Macosko Krieger are producing.

West Side Story doesn't have an assigned release date yet, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for that information and more updates as they come in. For now, look through our 2018 and 2019 release schedules to plan your trips to the theater over the next year accordingly.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains absolutely massive spoilers for the end of Edgar Wright's Baby Driver. If you have not yet seen the film, and don't wish to know any details about the movie, please bookmark this link and return to this feature after your screening!

It's been a nice long four year wait, but finally writer/director Edgar Wright has a new film in theaters -- and it's a stunner. Baby Driver is an incredible piece of daring and mind-blowing art that uses music unlike anything you've seen before -- and it's without question one of the best movies of 2017. As such, it offers up plenty of different discussions topic, regarding its bombastic action sequences and groovy soundtrack, but the most obvious subject to investigate is its mysterious ending.

In this feature, we'll not only analyze what goes down at the end of Baby Driver, but also dive into the perspectives of stars Ansel Elgort and Lily James, as well as writer/director Edgar Wright. So what is it that's going on in the last scene of the phenomenal crime thriller? Let's dig in!

What Happens At The End Of The Film

Baby Driver steers into its final turn shortly after the final showdown with Buddy (Jon Hamm), as Baby (Ansel Elgort) and Debora (Lily James) drive towards what they hope is finally a road to freedom. Baby, in the passenger seat, is dazed and still slowly adjusting to the fact that he is now mostly deaf thanks to Buddy's gun. Over the stereo we hear the sound of Sky Ferreira's cover of The Commodores' "Easy," and Debora asks if it's really Baby's mom who is singing -- revealing that she has put his cassette in the tape deck. "She has a beautiful voice," Debora says, and Baby replies, "I know," absorbing the sound by putting his hand on the door speaker.

Sadly, the dream of driving off into the sunset is short-lived, as while crossing a bridge they run into a cadre of police cars and officers who have been waiting for their arrival. Debora's instinct kicks in to throw the car into reverse, but Baby hits the brakes and pulls the key from the ignition. He recognizes that he can't pull her into his world by making her his accomplice, kisses her, and exits the car to give himself up.

A montage then follows Baby as he makes his way through the judicial system -- as we not only see him get his mugshot taken and be processed, but also hear the testimony of key witnesses -- including the woman whose car he stole, the post office clerk, and his foster father, Joe (with the sign language translator voiced by legendary director Walter Hill). A judge sentences Baby to 25 years of incarceration, with the possibility of parole in five. He spends his time in prison mopping floors, watching TV, and reading a postcard from Debora telling him that she can't wait until they reunite.

As we saw earlier in the movie, there is then what appears to be a black and white fantasy sequence as Baby is exiting the prison, but the scene fades to color as Baby and Debora are reunited in a red and white convertible -- and after the revelation of Baby's real name (Miles) and a drive off toward the horizon with a rainbow in the sky, you're left to wonder if what you're seeing is actual reality. To help clear things up, we asked Ansel Elgort, Lily James, and Edgar Wright all individually about the finale... and they all surprisingly had very different things to say about Baby Driver's ending.

What Ansel Elgort Thinks Happens

If you're thinking that the end of Baby Driver showcases the ultimate fate of Baby and Debora, then you're thoughts go strictly against those of Ansel Elgort. It turns out that he is firmly in the "it's not actually real" camp. At the Los Angeles press day for the film in mid-June, I asked the actor about the ending during a one-on-one interview, and he left no ambiguity regarding his thoughts on the way the movie finishes. Said Elgort,

Essentially, Ansel Elgort thinks that there is a future for Baby and Debora, but that it's not really what we see play out in the final scenes. Instead, it's a fantastical vision of what that eventual reunion may be -- hence the use of the black and white.

For the actor, the key element in all of it is the idea of Debora potentially waiting a full two and a half decades for Baby to be given his freedom. Ansel Elgort was not stifled in his thoughts on the matter, and explained during our interview why the postcard is really the key element in the ending:

On a more macro level, Ansel Elgort also told me that he had a heavy appreciation for the end of Baby Driver just in that it's a film that features legitimate consequences for its criminal hero's action. He told me that he sees something inherently phony about movie criminals getting away with the job and living happily ever after, and loved that Edgar Wright's film was willing to have his character turn himself in. He explained,

So that's one vote for "It's all a fantasy." But what are Lily James' feelings on the conclusion? Read on to find out!

What Lily James Likes About The Ending

Ansel Elgort may think that the end of Baby Driver is just fantasy and that the idea of the getaway isn't realistic, but Lily James actually expressed different sentiments when I sat down with her for an interview. In addition to recognizing the particular ambiguity about the reality of the movie's ending, she also expressed that a part of her wishes that they could have avoided the whole prison thing and gone through with their original plans while being on the run. Said James,

At the end of Baby Driver, what you ultimately want for the lead characters is a happy ending, and whether it's real or fantasy, that is ultimately what the movie delivers (you have to also remember that this is a fictional story about fictional people). As Lily James notes, it's really left up to the audience to decide whether or not Baby and Debora will reunite after he gets out of prison - but regardless of that, the film is still able to play out the "romantic ending to a gangster story."

So now you've heard what the stars of Baby Driver had to say about it, but what about the man whose mind is responsible for the entire world in which the movie exists? Continue to the next page for Edgar Wright's thoughts on the matter!

What Edgar Wright Is Actually Doing With Baby Driver's Ending

In the making of a movie, the director is king, and the general idea is that what audiences see on the big screen is the complete vision of the filmmaker. Because of this, when a narrative ends with ambiguity, it is generally the director's opinion that is held in highest esteem. So how does Edgar Wright feel that audiences should be interpreting the reality or fantasy of the ending? The answer is that it doesn't really matter, and all that's important is that there are no right or wrong interpretations, and that there is a conversation going on. Wright told me,

So whether you think the Baby Driver ending is reality or make believe, what's really ultimately the most important thing is that you're thinking about it and engaging with the material (on that note, thanks for reading this feature!)

During the interview, Edgar Wright also detailed why he made the decision that he did to have Baby turn himself in -- rather than either get killed Bonnie and Clyde-style or live on a la True Romance. Evidently a prison sentence was always waiting for the titular hero at the end of the story essentially because it was the required ending for everything that had been set up earlier in the movie. The writer/director explained,

Perhaps my favorite part of the interview, however, was the little heads up that Edgar Wright gave me about the particular meteorological phenomenon that we see in the final scene. Because every detail matters in Wright's movies, there actually is a very specific reason why we see the rainbow, and it's because of the Dolly Parton song that the post office worker tells Baby about:

How did you interpret the end of Baby Driver? Do you think that we're seeing Baby actually get released from prison to be with Debora, or do you think it's just a vision that exists in Baby's mind? Did you get the little rainbow Easter egg that Edgar Wright left? Hit the comments section below with your thoughts!

If you haven't heard yet, Baby Driver is a seriously cool movie. It's the best crime thriller musical about getaway drivers you'll ever see! What separates Baby Driver is that the entire movie is cut in rhythm with the soundtrack (which is quite good on its own), so when characters fire guns or slam doors, it's on the beat. It's a terrific idea from writer/director Edgar Wright and one that took a lot of work to get off the ground. Wright had been toying with the concept for years and remembers when he first got the idea for the original thriller. He recently revealed,

In Baby Driver, the music playing in every scene is just as vital as the plot or characters. The soundtrack is so heavily tied into the film it's easy to wonder what came first when Edgar Wright conceived the idea: The music or the movie? As it turns out, it's a bit of both. Wright came up with the idea that would become Baby Driver 22 years ago while listening to "Bell Bottoms" from the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Wright started to see a car chase while listening to the song and it all just took off from there.

As Edgar Wright said to Uproxx, he had no idea at the time what this car chase was for, but eventually, it took shape into the movie that is now storming theaters. Wright would tinker with the idea and pour through song after song to build his movie over the following years, all the while gaining more and more clout thanks to Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World's End (plus nerd cred for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World). Of course, it is also worth noting that Wright first partially explored the idea directing the music video for "Blue Song" by Mint Royale, which you can watch below:

Baby Driver follows the titular Baby, a music-obsessed getaway driver who does jobs for a local crime boss in order to pay off an old debt. However, Baby seeks to leave this life behind and run off with the love of his life, but that's easier said than done. The movie stars Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Jon Hamm, Jaimie Foxx, and Eiza Gonzalez, and it's a crazy bit of cinematic fun. We highly recommend heading to your local theater to check out a screening this weekend, and afterwards be sure to play your music as loud as possible on the car ride home.

It's been a long while since we've seen Edgar Wright's trademark madness on the big screen, as it's been almost four years since The World's End took its bow in theaters everywhere. Apparently patience does pay off, as Baby Driver not only marks the end of that drought, it's set to make a pretty big premiere, as the film has just been announced as debuting at this year's South by Southwest Film Festival.

SXSW just made the announcement through an official press release, which lists Baby Driver among all of the high profile Headliners from this year's film festival. Wright's latest sees Ansel Elgort playing the lead, a getaway driver who drives with a custom soundtrack of his own, and he has recently gotten in too deep with some criminal elements. Co-starring in yet another impressive Wright-assembled cast are Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm, Lily James, Kevin Spacey and in an unknown capacity, Meryl Streep.

Baby Driver looks like it's in good company this year, as it joins some other hotly anticipated films that have been much buzzed about through all corners of the Internet. Below are the details on all of the films in the Headliner category:

Of particular note are Ben Wheatley's Free Fire, which looks like incredible fun and boasts Brie Larson and Armie Hammer as part of the cast; and Song To Song, which sees Terrence Malick directing Rooney Mara, Ryan Gosling and Michael Fassbender in a music-themed drama about love and making it big. So basically, if you'd ever wanted to see Malick direct La La Land, this just might be what you were looking for.

Meanwhile, the following films make up SXSW's Narrative Spotlight line-up:

Keep in mind, these two categories are just the beginning of the South By Southwest Film Festival, as the Midnighters, the VR programs and the Short Film line-up will all be announced on February 7th. In total, there will be 125 features shown, which also include special festival screenings of both Alien and Ghost In The Shell. The South by Southwest Film Festival will take place between March 10th and 19th, 2017 in Austin, Texas.

Dungeons & Dragons has been a gaming phenomena since the 1970s, allowing players to create their own character and adventure in an RPG fantasy world with friends. However, the game yet to experience any true cinematic success. There was a movie adaptation that came out in 2000, but it was received poorly, and its two direct-to-DVD sequels fared even worse. Now Warner Bros is setting out to give Dungeons & Dragons another chance at the big screen, and they may have found the new movie's lead in Divergent actor Ansel Elgort.

According to a new Deadline report, Elgort is in early negotiations to star in the new Dungeons & Dragons movie. No deal has been officially worked out, but if he does join, he would be the movie's first official actor. Vin Diesel previously expressed interest in joining if the story was done right, and considering how much he loves the game, his presence would undoubtedly be welcome both as a movie star and fan. Goosebumps' Rob Letterman is directing the feature, while The Conjuring 2's David Leslie Johnson penned the script.

The Dungeons & Dragons movie will follow a warrior and his band of mystical creatures as they go on a dangerous journey to find a legendary treasure. That sounds about right for a theatrical adaptation, and while elements like races, weapons and spells will undoubtedly remain intact, the movie has the creative freedom to go wherever it wants to story-wise, just like the games themselves. Dungeons & Dragons was involved in a lengthy lawsuit over rights issues, but that was finally resolved last year. The Deadline report also mentions that the movie has become a "top priority" for Warner Bros, as the studio is seeking new franchises to add to their slate, which already includes the DC Extended Universe and Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts series.

Ansel Elgort has been a rising star in Hollywood over the last three years. The young adult crowd will recognize him as Caleb Prior in the Divergent movies, and his other credits include the Carrie remake and The Fault in Our Stars. His upcoming movies include November Criminals and Billionaire Boys Club, and at one point, he was reportedly in the running to play young Han Solo in the 2018 Star Wars spinoff movie centered around the smuggler, but that honor now belongs to Alden Ehrenreich. Assuming this Dungeons & Dragons deal goes through, this will most certainly propel Elgort to a new level of fame.

Dungeons & Dragons hasn't been assigned a release date yet, but we'll keep you apprised of its progress as more news comes in. In the meantime, let us know what you think of Ansel Elgort possibly joining the movie in the comments below.

The casting call to play the young Han Solo was one of the biggest that we’ve ever seen in Hollywood. Nearly every male human with a headshot and a pulse was reviewed by Disney and Lucasfilm as they went looking for the man who would play the young version of Harrison Ford’s famous character. Now it looks like the thousands of potentials have been narrowed down to just a few.

According to Variety, the list is down to about a dozen names, eight of which are specifically listed. So here’s the rundown of the actors most likely to play Han Solo next. Do you like any of them? Do you prefer one over the others? Let us know.

Miles Teller

Miles Teller is by far the best known name on the list. Teller starred alongside Oscar winner J.K. Simmons in the well-received Whiplash, and played the role of Reed Richards in the not so well received Fantastic Four reboot from this past summer. He’s also been part of the Divergent series. He’s been a fairly high demand actor recently, so his presence here is no surprise.

Ansel Elgort

Ansel Elgort is a relative newcomer to Hollywood, but has done well for himself in only the last few years. Like Teller, Elgort has been part of the Divergent series, in the role of Caleb. He also had the role of the male lead in the teen weeper The Fault in Our Stars, another film based on a popular young adult novel. Needless to say, the role of Han Solo would make him an overnight superstar.

Dave Franco

Dave Franco isn’t as well known as his brother, James, though he has been putting together a solid acting career for years. He starred in the surprise hit Now You See Me as Jack Wilder, and will be returning for the sequel later this year. Franco has tried his hand at comedy over the years, in the 21 Jump Street films and Neighbors. He’s currently filming The Disaster Artist, a movie about the making of the cult movie The Room, directed by his brother.

Jack Reynor

Jack Reynor is a bit of a wild card. While he’s had a strong acting career, the vast majority of it has been in smaller films. Nothing like what a Star Wars movie is likely to be. He’s not completely without blockbuster cred, however, as he did play Shane, the boyfriend to Mark Wahlberg’s daughter in the most recent Transformers movie. Is that enough to help him carry a Han Solo movie? Or will it work in his favor that he's still unknown to mainstream crowds?

Scott Eastwood

Scott Eastwood is the oldest actor on the short list at the nearly over the hill age of 29. Eastwood started out acting in films directed by his father Clint, and his been making his own name in recent years with roles in films like Fury, The Longest Ride and Diablo. By the time the Han Solo movie hits, he’ll be much better known thanks to his role in Suicide Squad and his starring turn in the upcoming action movie, Overdrive.

Logan Lerman

Logan Lerman is best known for his work as the title character in the two Percy Jackson films. He was also up for consideration as the new Spider-Man before that role went to Tom Holland. Interestingly, he also had a role in Fury with Scott Eastwood. That was the last time we saw him, though he’s starring in the new film Indignation, which will be screened at Sundance later this month.

Emory Cohen

Emory Cohen may be the most unknown on this list. After a recurring role on NBC’s musical drama Smash, he went on to play Tony in 2015’s well received Brooklyn. He’s not going to be unknown for too much longer, however. He has at least five movies currently set for 2016 release dates, so a year from now, he’ll be a much higher-profile actor. Maybe it makes sense for Lucasfilm and Disney to snatch him up now, before his star reaches the stratosphere?

Blake Jenner

Does Han Solo need to sing? If Blake Jenner takes the role, he may have a great voice. Jenner’s major screen role to date was as Ryder Lynn on the TV series Glee. Most recently, he played the role of Adam Foster on CBS’ Supergirl opposite his real life wife Melissa Benoist. Jenner has a couple of films slated for 2016 including the comedy Besties alongside Woody Harrelson and Hailee Steinfeld.

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A long time ago, in a galaxy called Hollywood, the plans for Star Wars expansion continued with the announcement of a solo Han Solo movie, co-directed by The LEGO Movie hotshots Phil Lord and Chris Miller. The reveal came with precious few details, though it was made clear that the story would be an origin movie of sorts, explaining how Solo became "the smuggler, thief, and scoundrel whom Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first encountered in the cantina at Mos Eisley."

About the only actor in town who won’t audition for this role is Harrison Ford… who returns to Solo’s story path in J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Disney and Lucasfilm are going to have to go younger when looking for the next actor to fill Ford’s massive shoes. We think the following 10 actors at least deserve a phone call. Do you have other suggestions? Let us know who you think is the perfect young Han Solo in the comments section below:

Dylan O’Brien

Current Age: 23

Where You Have Seen Him: The first Maze Runner film (and its pending sequel), as well as MTV’s Teen Wolf, where he plays "Stiles."

Why He’s Worthy: He’s shown a sarcastic side, but also can play the hero – two traits that a new Han Solo will need.

Colton Haynes

Current Age: 26

Where You Have Seen Him: Another Teen Wolf alum, Haynes also has appeared on Arrow (playing Roy Harper / Arsenal) and got a taste of big-screen action by appearing alongside The Rock in San Andreas.

Why He’s Worthy: If Disney wants to get a young star before he officially breaks out, and groom him to carry a franchise for years, Haynes could be their guy.

Scott Eastwood

Current Age: 29

Where You Have Seen Him: He charmed audiences (and Britt Robertson) in the Nicholas Sparks weeper The Longest Ride. He’s about to contribute to the DC Cinematic Universe in a mysterious Suicide Squad role, but a leap to Star Wars isn’t out of the question.

Why He’s Worthy: He’s a Hollywood "Blue Blood" (the son of Clint Eastwood, obviously), and he has the right mixture of movie-star good looks, irascible charm, and experience with tentpole action. Sign him now, before he blows up.

Liam Hemsworth

Current Age: 25

Where You Have Seen Him: The other Hemsworth has been busy protecting Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games series. He acted alongside Harrison Ford in the little-seen Paranoia, and is about to revisit another sci-fi property in Independence Day: Resurgence.

Why He’s Worthy: Because he’s young, handsome, modeled to be an action hero, and has a special movie-star gene that seems to run in the Hemsworth family. If Disney needs a name, this is the one that they should grab.

Anthony Ingruber

Current Age: 25

Where You Have Seen Him: Did you see The Age of Adaline? No? I know. No one did. But he was in it.

Why He’s Worthy: And in that film, during a key flashback, Anthony Ingruber played a young Harrison Ford, and his impersonation was uncanny. Now, is that enough to get him the role of Han Solo? Nope. But it should be on his reel when he sends it to Disney for consideration.

Theo James

Current Age: 30

Where You Have Seen Him: Though he had a role in Underworld: Awakening, most know him as Four in the Divergent series of films.

Why He’s Worthy: Because he has cut his teeth on a mega-YA franchise, and actors tend to take those parts so that they can springboard them to the next level. James actually rose above the tedium of the Divergent storylines, establishing Four as a three-dimensional character. Could he play Han Solo next?

Cameron Monaghan

Current Age: 21

Where You Have Seen Him: On television, on programs like Gotham, Mercy Street and Shameless.

Why He’s Worthy: Because Disney likely will look to successful TV properties in order to pluck top talent, and Monaghan has been building a fan base. He’s very young for what we assume Disney will want to Han Solo, but at this early stage, you never know what’s on the casting wish list.

Ansel Elgort

Current Age: 21

Where You Have Seen Him: Alongside Shailene Woodley in the cancer drama The Fault in our Stars, as well as the Divergent films. He also made a memorable inpression in the Carrie remake.

Why He’s Worthy: Elgort’s name has been on most "Hot Up-And-Comers" lists for the past two years, and he’s primed for a breakout. Unlike his fellow young (and intense) actors, he has that casual, carefree charm that fits Han Solo. Can he carry an action film? We may find out.

Sam Claflin

Current Age: 29

Where You Have Seen Him: Playing second-fiddle (though lending strong support) to the Hunger Games leads and both Snow White and her Huntsman.

Why He’s Worthy: Claflin has plenty of big-ticket experience (he also played Philip in the most recent Pirates of the Caribbean movie… also by Disney). This is intriguing. His name has been rumored for Gareth Edwards’ Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One. Maybe there’s a reason he’s on Disney’s radar?

Aaron Taylor Johnson

Current Age: 25

Where You Have Seen Him: As Kick-Ass, and in Godzilla, but also as a recent member of The Avengers during the Age of Ultron.

Why He’s Worthy: Because after starting in lower-budget fare, ATJ has worked to prove that he can play on the same court as the blockbuster movie stars. Marvel doesn’t need Quicksilver back for Phase Three (spoiler!!), so Taylor Johnson is free to explore new galaxies as another classic hero.

But who do we think REALLY deserves a look? Click on ahead for our bonus choice. You won’t be disappointed.

BONUS PICK: Jai Courtney

Current Age: Ageless

Where You Have Seen Him: Everywhere, in everything.

Why He’s Worthy: Because this is the Age of Jai, and Hollywood is doing everything in its power to make sure that Jai Courtney puts his fingerprints all over every franchise you have ever loved… from Die Hard to the Terminator. Look into your hearts, people. Jai Courtney as Han Solo. You know it. You love it. Make it so.

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Edgar Wright’s latest project about a young driver in the midst of a bank robbery gone wrong of course called for a love interest, and who better to fill those glass slippers than Cinderella herself, Lily James. Now, as Wright bounces back from his Ant-Man fiasco, he puts Ansel Elgort in the driver’s seat, and hopefully Lily James lovingly watching from the side.

Negotiations of Lily James’ casting are ongoing, but they come right as Cinderella crosses the $500 million mark just this week in the global box office, according to Variety. The young actress’ recognition in the big budget Disney live-action film, alongside her breakout performance in the British hit series Downton Abbey has paved the way to more opportunities including a War and Peace mini-series and a starring role in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Wright looks to cast James as the female lead, a waitress in a diner who becomes the love interest to Ansel Elgort’s getaway driver in the action-crime comedy.

Baby Driver tells the story of a young mute man whose ear condition forces him to constantly listen to music, basically in order to drown out the ringing that is always in his ears. The man is also a very talented getaway driver who works to be the best in the game, and his secret to success?—a killer soundtrack. When he is coerced into working for a big crime boss, a life-altering heist will threaten his love and his freedom. Essentially, it is a rock-and-roll car chase film, add that classic Edgar Wright humor. This is going to be good.

Wright is set to both write and direct Baby Driver. This will be the first time we see his magic come to fruition since back in 2013 with The World’s End. In between that time, you may remember, Wright was signed on for Marvel’s Ant-Man film. But almost a year ago, Wright parted ways with the property announcing that it was due to creative differences. The news shocked us all, as Wright had been excitedly working on the script for years prior. The final product is said to expand on many elements explored in Wright’s original script, but it was a terrible upset to watch the beloved director who had dedicated so much time and passion to the project leave it all behind. Baby Driver marks his return after the surrounding Ant-Man drama, and it sounds like the perfect way to rock out and forget about the Marvel mess.

Details are slowly coming out about the film. So far the basic plot line and lead casting of Ansel Elgort are our only guarantees. If the deal close, we’ll see Lily James aside the Fault in Our Stars star. More info on production and release dates are sure to come.

The final Insurgent trailer has hit the web. Unlike all our previous looks, it doesn't focus on the psychedelic mind trip this film will probably end up being. Instead we get our best look yet at the events to come in the highly anticipated sequel.

At the end of Divergent, we saw Tris (Shailene Woodley) on the run with Four (Theo James), her brother (Ansel Elgort) and that douchebag of a Dauntless warrior Peter (Miles Teller). They discovered Jeanine’s (Kate Winslet) and Erudite’s plans to overthrow the other factions and rule the government of this futuristic society. After watching her mother and father die at the hands of these tyrants, Tris fled with her companions and are now in hiding. 

As the Insurgent trailer shows us, they seek refuge in Amity, the faction marked by their peaceful demeanor and kindness towards others. Its leader, Johanna (Octavia Spencer), welcomes the fugitives with open arms, but they’ll soon encounter dangers. The new footage previews an attack on Tris’ hideout, and she’ll have to use her Dauntless training to survive. But if she’s going to overthrow Jeanine, she’ll have to bolster her numbers. That’s where Evelyn (Namoi Watts) comes in. As the leader of the Factionless, those people you spotted in Divergent scavenging for scraps at the borders of the city, her and her people are ready to take up the fight. 

Also returning for Insurgent are familiar faces Jai Courtney (Eric), Maggie Q (Tori Wu), Zoe Kravitz (Christina) and Ashley Judd (Natalie). But wait! Didn’t we just say Tris’ mom dies in Divergent? That means our heroine is surely in for one of those massive brain trips. We got a look at what mental obstacle courses await her this time around way back when our very first look at this film was released. There was a floating burning building, Matrix-style effects and Tris’ mom calling for her daughter. What’s real and what’s not will be up to Tris to decide. But as a Divergent, she’s pretty good at that sort of thing. 

There’s a lot going on in this trippy sequel, but the first film was way more enjoyable than it seemed on paper. So we have high hopes for Insurgent, which will hit theaters on March 20. (You can now reserve your tickets on Fandango.) Analysts are already predicting 2015 to be one of the biggest years for the box office in recent memory, and this installment of the popular young-adult franchise is certainly factoring in to their numbers. 

It was less than five years ago that Andrew Garfield was named as the star to play the new big screen version of Peter Parker/Spider-Man, but once again Hollywood has found itself looking for a new performer to take the role. The wallcrawler will soon be getting rebooted into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, officially ending the Amazing Spider-Man series, and that process is going to require a casting period and finding a new actor. But who should the part go to?

In order to help narrow down the perfect choice to play the next cinematic version of Spider-Man, we’ve put together a list of 10 great young actors who could potentially do the part justice. Read on to see our choices!

Kodi Smit-McPhee

Age: 18

What You Know Him From: Let Me In, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes

Why He Would Be A Good Spider-Man: At the ripe age of 18, Kodi Smit-McPhee is the youngest actor on this list, but that’s really only an extra card up his sleeve. After all, Marvel really should be doing their best to create a contrast between the adult ages of the current Avengers line-up and the youthful Spider-Man. Beyond just being under 20, however, Smit-McPhee has also put on some really stunning performances in his young career, and it’s not hard to have confidence in him doing some comic book-worthy stuff as the nerdy Peter Parker and his heroic alter-ego.

Ansel Elgort

Age: 20

What You Know Him From: Divergent, The Fault In Our Stars

Why He Would Be A Good Spider-Man: Ansel Elgort had one hell of a 2014, earning positive marks for his turns in the young adult science fiction film Divergent and the tear-jerking drama The Fault In Our Stars, and 2015 could get off to a great start by seeing him be cast as the new Spider-Man. He has both youth and popularity working for him, and has even been getting some action-movie exercise thanks to the aforementioned sci-fi franchise. It is possible that same series could wind up creating some scheduling conflicts, but he’d still be a prime choice.

Craig Roberts

Age: 24

What You Know Him From: Submarine, Neighbors

Why He Would Be A Good Spider-Man: It might be weird to see the role of Spider-Man go to another British actor after Andrew Garfield, but Craig Roberts has the talent, attributes, and resume to back him up as a legitimate choice. He has a youthful look that’s right around the Peter Parker-level of nerdy, has his own kind of screen presence, and has proven himself to be a rather talented comedian (and the humor of Spider-Man is certainly one aspect that should carry over from the Amazing Spider-Man movies). His performance in Neighbors also showed that he can do just fine with an American accent, so there’s no issue there.

Douglas Booth

Age: 22

What You Know Him From: Noah, Jupiter Ascending

Why He Would Be A Good Spider-Man: With Jupiter Ascending not doing so hot at the box office, 2015 isn’t off to a great start for Douglas Booth, but that could all turn around if he were to be cast as Spider-Man. Even though he’s only 22, he’s already caught the attention of fantastic filmmakers like Darren Aronofsky and the Wachowski siblings, so it’s not hard to believe that he could wind up charming Marvel Studios Kevin Feige and the rest of the crew at Marvel as well. Booth’s biggest downside is that he’s a bit too pretty to play the nerdy Peter Parker, so they may just need to keep him under the mask a bit more.

Cameron Monaghan

Age: 21

What You Know Him From: The Giver, Shameless

Why He Would Be A Good Spider-Man: Having been acting since he was nine years old, Cameron Monaghan already has a long list of television work on his resume – from Malcolm In The Middle to his current role on Shameless - but his big screen credits have been getting more significant in recent years as well. But while last year saw him playing the best friend role in The Giver, we wonder if a leading role as Spider-Man could be in his future. He has a good look to play Peter Parker – and very different than what Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield brought to the plate – and has the right kind of profile to disappear into the role.

Anton Yelchin

Age: 25

What You Know Him From: Star Trek, Fight Night

Why He Would Be A Good Spider-Man: Given that he already has a fairly significant role in another franchise – playing Pavel Chekov in the Star Trek movies – some might argue that Anton Yelchin’s franchise plate is fully enough at the moment, but one might also make the point that he could be a rather great choice as the new Spider-Man. When The Amazing Spider-Man was in the works, his name was on shortlists right alongside Andrew Garfield’s, and he has not aged out of consideration yet. He can play the nerd, he has charisma, he can be funny – what more do you need?

Taron Egerton

Age: 25

What You Know Him From: Kingsman: The Secret Service

Why He Would Be A Good Spider-Man: It’s quite likely that many of you don’t recognize the name Taron Egerton now, but that may change in a big way after this weekend. The actor is front and center alongside Colin Firth in X-Men: First Class director Matthew Vaughn’s newest film Kingsman: The Secret Service, and his performance has been earning very high marks in early reviews. Admittedly, the actor doesn’t have much of a resume beyond his new movie, but that may just be a perfect opportunity for Marvel – who can snatch him up and get audiences to really identify him as Spider-Man before looking at him as any other character.

Donald Glover

Age: 31

What You Know Him From: Community, Mystery Team

Why He Would Be A Good Spider-Man: As the only actor here over the age of 30, Donald Glover is the oldest actor mentioned on this list – but he’s here simply because he really deserves to be. Controversial as the idea of a black Peter Parker was, Glover got a lot of social media support when casting for The Amazing Spider-Man was going down in 2010, and it’s still hard not to like the idea of him wearing the red and blue suit. While I doubt it will be the case, if Marvel Studios were to consider going with an older Spider-Man for the MCU, I would hope that they would reach out to Donald Glover.

Dylan O’Brien

Age: 23

What You Know Him From: Teen Wolf, The Maze Runner

Why He Would Be A Good Spider-Man: After really launching his career as the star of the MTV series Teen Wolf, Dylan O’Brien has started to really expand his horizons in the big screen world. With him in the lead role, The Maze Runner became one of last year’s big surprise hits – and while that movie is becoming a franchise of its own, O’Brien could really step up his blockbuster game as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man. He showed us some impressive physicality in last year’s young adult fiction adaptation, and while he is perhaps a bit too conventionally good looking, that’s nothing a little bit of makeup can’t help solve.

Freddie Highmore

Age: 22

What You Know Him From: Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Bates Motel

Why He Would Be A Good Spider-Man: Let me be the first to admit it: it would be kind of strange if the same actor played both Norman Bates and Peter Parker. That being said, it’s a credit to Freddie Highmore’s acting ability that I trust he could pull it off. The young actor has been seriously impressive through two seasons of Bates Motel, and it’s not imagine him doing a great job portraying both Peter Parker’s awkwardness and enthusiasm for science and technology. Being the star of his own television series would definitely make it hard for Highmore to play such a key role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it could be worth it for him.

The last big news we got in regards to Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright was a bit depressing. When the talented director left Marvel’s Ant-Man after years of dedication to the project, the world was left heartbroken. But, of course, Wright found his way again, and now is up to directing what sounds like an incredibly awesome film called Baby Driver with hopes of Fault In Our Stars Ansel Elgort to star.

The young actor is in early talks for the film, and there is no official casting yet, but when Variety announced Wright eyeing Elgort, a basic plot for the film was also released, and it sounds pretty cool. Apparently, the plot follows a young and very talented getaway driver who wants to be the best in the game, but his trick is, that he relies on the beat of a personal soundtrack to keep him at the top of his game.

Ansel Elgort, known for his portrayal of Augustus Waters in romantic drama The Fault in Our Stars also recently starred in the comedy Men, Women & Children. While I personally can’t see Elgort playing a quirky role that is usually associated with Wright’s films portrayed by the likes of Michael Cera in Scott Pilgrim and Simon Pegg, it is an interesting choice. Sources say that it is only the early stages with Elgort, but looks like he was chosen over Logan Lerman and John Boyega. Personally, I would’ve loved to see Lerman, who I think would work very well with Wright. But, we’ll just have to trust that Wright saw something in Elgort that made him perfect for the part.

TriStar’s Tom Rothman expanded on the new project, telling Variety:

Rock-and-roll car chase film. Yes please. Could the title be a tribute to uptempo Simon & Garfunkel song "Baby Driver"? The song tells the story of a boy living a comfortable life but is in search of adventure. This young driver in Wright’s film is coerced into working for a crime boss which threatens any comfort he once had. Also, the Simon & Garfunkel song features car noises throughout.

This isn't the first time we’ve seen the director bring great music to life including cars and crime. Back in 2003, Wright made a hilarious music video for the band Mint Royale featuring Noel Fielding, Julian Barratt, Nick Frost and Michael ‘Tyres’ Smiley. You can watch it below:

Baby Driver is in the very beginning stages, so no word yet on when production will start, but we can’t wait to see what Edgar Wright has up his sleeve.

The cast of Pirates Of The Caribbean 5 is on the precipice of being expanded. Six young Hollywood heartthrobs are currently being considered for the mysterious role of Henry in the nautical adventure, which will be rolling into production in the coming months.

Obviously with Johnny Depp’s involvement already confirmed it wasn’t as if Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales was in desperate need of a beautiful face. But it now sounds as though the Edward Scissorhands star is going to have some stiff competition. According to Deadline six of the brightest and most aesthetically pleasing young actors in Hollywood are in line to join him on-board the blockbuster. But who are these dashing upstarts? Well the most famous of the bunch is probably Ansel Elgort. The 20-year-old actor starred as Augustus Waters in this past summer’s hugely successful The Fault In Our Stars opposite Shailene Woodley. While his performance didn’t draw as many superlatives as his co-star’s, he was nonetheless still pretty impressive in the romantic heartbreaker. You can check out an image of his impressive mug below.

I suppose he is attractive in a conventional sense. But who else is vying for the part? There’s also Taron Egerton, who will be soon be seen in Matthew Vaughn's upcoming adaptation of Mark Millar’s Kingsman: The Secret Service, opposite Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong and Michael Caine. Egerton is a little bit older than Elgort, but big things are still expected of him as he will follow up his role in Kingsman with performances in the war drama Testament Of Youth and Brian Helgeland's period thriller Legend. Here’s a pic of him from Kingsman: The Secret Service. He’s not the one who is clearly Colin Firth.

There are four other actors in contention for Pirates Of The Caribbean 5’s Henry too. Pride’s George MacKay, Maleficent’s Brenton Thwaites, Sam Keeley from In The Heart Of The Sea, and Descendant’s Mitchell Hope are all currently being considered as well. You can check out a collaged image of the foursome, with McKay in the top left, Thwaites in the top right, Keely bottom left and Hope bottom right, below.

It’s currently unknown who out of this sextet of thespians is the frontrunner for the role, but you can be rest assured that whoever is chosen to star in Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg's blockbuster will immediately be labelled as Hollywood's next big thing/the new Orlando Bloom when they are cast.

To say that the feature adaptation of John Green's The Fault In Our Stars was a success would be an understatement, especially when we take into account the movie's modest $16 million budget. It's a big week for the Josh Boone directed film, not only because it just released on home video this week, but it also managed to pass the $300 million mark at the worldwide box office.

Deadline reported news of the milestone today. The site also notes that it was producers Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey who pursued the adaptation and encouraged Fox to move it forward. Their efforts obviously paid off. The Fault In Our Stars' domestic gross has surpassed $124 million at the box office, $48 million of that was earned in its opening weekend. The film brought in another $174 million-plus internationally, bringing the total to cross the $300 million mark.

Fans of John Green's novel probably don't need an explanation as to how this movie performed so successfully. However, Deadline brings up some good points about the factors that may have helped Fault reach box office success, including the stars of the film,John Green's involvement and impressive social media presence, and Fault's release proximity to Divergent. Were these elements a winning formula for box office success? Let's take a closer look...

Star Power And Good Timing

Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort are up and comers, no doubt. Their talent and chemistry played a huge factor in The Fault in Our Stars turning out to be a great adaptation of a great book. But it also helps that both actors starred -- Woodley more prominently than Elgort -- in the feature adaptation of Divergent, which came out earlier that year and brought in $54 million in its opening weekend. Elgort and Woodley's involvement in Divergent likely helped boost their star power a bit leading into Fault's release.

It seems worth noting that The Fault In Our Stars' total box office surpassed Divergent's. While Divergent performed better domestically, with $150 million brought in stateside, Fault's impressive international gross pushed the film past Divergent's $286 million worldwide haul.

Green Power And Social Media

John Green is no stranger to the internet, and the internet is where all of the people are. That in itself has huge value to a movie in terms of generating buzz and interest. Being smart, personable and charismatic goes a long way, and John Green is all three. The millions of YouTube followers who subscribe to John and his brother Hank's channel can attest to that. The author having his own massive following likely helped add some exposure to the film.

Beyond that, Fox's efforts to promote The Fault in our Stars weren't limited to simply flooding the internet with clips and trailers, but extended to finding ways to bring fans together, including launching a nationwide tour. They also did an advanced screening event called "The Night Before Our Stars, which probably helped boost that opening weekend box office. Tickets for the screening were $25 a piece.

Good Source Material

Good source material doesn't guarantee a great movie, nor does it guarantee a successful movie. In addition to great direction, a solid script, which didn't stray too far from the book, and outstanding performances by Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Laura Dern and everyone else involved, The Fault In Our Stars certainly benefited from its source material and the fan base that came with it. Whether it's the romance between Hazel and Gus, the challenges Hazel faces with her illness and her determination to meet her favorite author, or simply Hazel's candid, sometimes humorous narrative, the book has a lot of appeal and it translated nicely to the screen, which likely contributed to its success at the box office.

Fault's June release date may have also played a factor in its box office success. At least, Fox may seem to think so as they just scheduled the feature adaptation of John Green's Paper Towns for June 19, 2015. Will it find similar box office success?

The Fault In Our Stars is now available on DVD/Blu-ray.

We've been hearing talks about a Wargames remake going back all the way to 2011 when Horrible Bosses-helmer Seth Gordon was attached to make the movie, but now the film is finally ready to move forward again - albeit with a new writer and director. New reports say that Dean Israelite, the filmmaker behind the upcoming time travel thriller Project Almanac, and Arash Amel, the screenwriter behind the Aaron Eckhart thriller Erased and the upcoming Grace Kelly biopic Grace of Monaco, are now in talks with MGM to start working on the reboot of the 80s techno thriller.

The news about the guys taking care of things behind the scenes comes from Deadline, but The Wrap also has info on the actors who are being considered for the lead role, played by Matthew Broderick in the original:

Ansel Elgort

The first name on the list is Ansel Elgort, who you may also know as "That Guy Who Hangs Out With Shailene Woodley A Lot." This year he starred with the young actress in both The Fault In Our Stars and Divergent, and prior to that his first professional film role came in the 2013 remake of Carrie. He is currently working on the Divergent sequel, Insurgent, and also has a part in Jason Reitman's ensemble Men, Women & Children.

Tye Sheridan

Tye Sheridan seems to be Elgort's biggest competition for the part, but he is definitely a tough opponent. The young Texas-born actor made his acting debut in Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life (earning rave reviews), and followed that up with performances in Jeff Nichols' fantastic Mud and David Gordon Green's Joe. He is currently filming the horror comedy Scouts vs. Zombies, but has also completed work on the adaptaton of Gillian Flynn's Dark Places, writer/director Kyle Wilamowski's drama Grass Stains, Philip Martin's crime thriller The Forger, and Rodrigo Garcia's Last Days in the Desert.

The original Wargames told the story of a teen hacker who accidentally finds a backend into a defense department computer and accidentally puts the globe on the brink of World War III. Noah Oppenheim and Zak Penn wrote previous drafts of the remake, but it's unclear how much of their material will remain in the movie once Arash Amel has done his job. MGM seems keen on getting this movie made, so stay tuned for more updates.

Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort can currently be found playing siblings in Divergent, which tore up the box office last weekend. But we'll see them in a whole new context in a few months when another book-to-screen adaptation arrives in theaters. The duo are set to play love interests in the feature adaptation of John Green's emotional teen drama The Fault In Our Stars. Following up on the trailer for the film, 20th Century Fox has offered up this minute-long featurette, which focuses on Woodley and Elgort's chemistry as Hazel and Gus, two teens who meet at a cancer support group.

"It's a love story about two kids with cancer, but it's not about cancer," Woodley says when describing The Fault in our Stars in the above video. She goes on to say that she and the cast really clicked. And it certainly seems that way as we see some happy behind-the-scenes moments and even more on-camera smiles between Woodley's Hazel and Elgort's Gus.

John Green's book manages to be both a feel-good story and heartbreakingly moving all at once, which may be what he was going for. From the footage we've seen for Josh Boone's adaptation of the story, it seems like the movie will capture a similar tone. In the book, we're introduced to Hazel as she attends a Cancer Kid Support Group, expecting more of the same as she continues to fight her terminal disease. And then she meets Augustus Waters and the two spark instantly.

What's so compelling about the story is that it captures what feels like a realistic mindset of a teenager who has all the same hopes and desires as any other teen, but recognizes that life offers her a much shorter timeline. Her connection with Gus brings a lot of that to the surface. Without going into specifics about how this story plays out, I will admit to a steady trickle of tears throughout the last 20% of the book. But as I've admitted in the past, I tend to get as emotional over happy moments as I do over sad ones, and there are plenty of both in Green's story.

Everything we've seen for the movie suggests that Woodley and Elgort are great choices for the leads and this latest featurette is no exception. Here's the previously released trailer for The Fault in Our Stars, which hits theaters June 6.

The latest glimpse at the feature adaptation of John Green’s novel The Fault in our Stars follows a similar trend as the previous two images in showing stars Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort — playing Hazel and Gus respectively — taking a moment to appreciate each others company affectionately.

The Fault in our Stars centers on Hazel, a terminally ill teen who meets Gus at a support group for kids fighting cancer. The above image comes to us from EW and shows Hazel and Gus sharing a moment at the Anne Frank house during their trip to Amsterdam. As the site points out, Gus used his Make a Wish to take Hazel to Amsterdam so they could track down her favorite author. During the trip, they visit Anne Frank’s house and share a very memorable romantic moment.

This is actually the second look at Amsterdam we’ve seen from the film. Just the other day, we shared Elgort’s Instagram post, which showed off an adorable image of Gus and Hazel cuddled up together on a park bench.

And here’s the previously released poster, which depicts Hazel and Gus laying in the grass together, looking as content as can be with their faces close together…

Elgort and Woodley are both keeping busy with feature work these days. Building a name for herself on the small screen in shows like The O.C., Crossing Jordan and the lead role in The Secret Life of the American Teenager on ABC Family. She showed off her talent even further, playing the role of Alexandra King in The Descendants. But her rise to fame seems to be on a steeper incline since she started taking roles in adaptations of popular books. Last year, it was the part of Aimee in The Spectacular Now, and in 2014, she has Divergent due out in March —and the two films that follow it, lined up for 2015 and 2016 — not to mention The Fault in our Stars, due out June 6.

As for Elgort, his ascent has been much quicker, as his small list of credits are all big roles in major motion pictures, starting with the part of Tommy Ross in Carrie, followed by two roles that link him with Woodley, Divergent being the first one — he plays her brother Caleb in the film — and The Fault in our Stars. Lined up beyond that, he’ll be linked with Woodley’s Descendants co-star Judy Greer in Jason Reitman’s Men, Women & Children.

Suffice to say, both Elgort and Woodley's stars are on the rise, and hopefully The Fault in Our Stars will be a great demonstration of their talent.

So much for the Cinema Blend bump. We were pulling hard for Admission's Nat Wolff to snag the lead role opposite Shailene Woodley in the young adult novel adaptation The Fault In Our Stars, but apparently, the people actually casting the movie and meeting with the actors in contention know something we don't. Entertainment Weekly reports that Ansel Elgort has snagged the role of Augustus Waters, the teenage cancer patient who falls for Woodley's Hazel, a girl also suffering from the disease.

The book's author John Green-- a beloved Internet figure with legions of fans-- signed off on the casting in a statement to EW:

Elgort had a bit of an edge going into the process-- he's already working with Woodley in Divergent, another adaptation of a young adult novel, but this one set in a Hunger Games-style dystopic future. Weirdly, Elgort is playing Woodley's brother in the film, and producer Wyck Godfrey is well aware that might be a little strange for fans of both: "His performance completely annihilated our concerns about his playing Caleb in Divergent with Shailene, and we are confident that the fans of Fault will fall in love with him the same way that Hazel does–slowly, and then all at once.”

It's going to be hard to convince you if you haven't read the book, but The Fault in Our Stars is not remotely the sappy young adult romance about terminally ill kids that you're probably dreading. Yes, it's sad, and yes, it's about two kids who have cancer and will probably die young but who fall in love anyway. But it's also hilarious and honest and incredibly real about the emotions you have as a teenager, whether or not cancer is part of the picture. You know what would be easier? Just read the book, and then you can be excited and nervous right along with me as we wait to see how this adaptation turns out.

The cast for the feature adaptation of Veronica Roth's young adult dystopian novel Divergent has added three more to its roster. While there's still no confirmation on who will play the male lead, the film has added Maggie Q, Zoe Kravitz and Ansel Elgort for supporting roles. They join previously cast Shailene Woodley and Kate Winslet in the film, which is being helmed by Limitless' Neil Burger.

Divergent will star Woodley as Tris, a teen living in what's left of Chicago, among a society that's broken up into five factions, which determine a person's lifestyle. When she comes of age, she must decide if she wants to stay in her family's faction, the selfless and generous Abnegation, or choose another faction (the scholarly Erudite, the honest Candor, the peaceful Amity or the brave Dauntless). The story begins with Tris making her choice, after which she must undergo training in order to earn her place among her people.

THR posted the latest bit of casting news, stating that Maggie Q (Nikita, Live Free or Die Hard) is set to play Tori, a tattoo artist who's also involved in testing Tris to determine which faction she's most suited for. She proves to be especially helpful to Tris later in the story, but I'll leave out the details there for those who haven't read the book.

Newcomer Ansel Elgort has signed on to play the role of Tris' brother Caleb, who chooses a different faction from his sister and family. In the book, he's a little bit older than his sister, but THR mentions that he's her twin, so there might be a slight change from book to movie there. Elgort's only listed credit is the role of Tommy Ross in the new adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie. So we should expect to see him dancing with Chloe Grace Moretz in the remake, when it arrives this fall.

Finally, Zoe Kravitz (daughter to musician/actor Lenny Kravitz) has been cast to play Christina, Tris' candid new friend and fellow initiate. Zoe's recent credits include a recurring role in Californication a couple years back, and the part of Angel Salvadore in X-Men: First Class. We'll also see her in M. Night Shyamalan's After Earth this summer.

So that adds three more to the cast, and hopefully we'll hear word of some of the other initiates, as well as Four, Tris' instructor and Eric, one of the leaders of Tris' faction. Back in January, we learned that Kate Winslet was in talks for an unspecified role (possibly Tris' mother?). At that time, word was that Summit was considering aiming a bit older for the male lead role of Four, after not finding what they were looking for from the latest readings. Previously rumored to be up for the part were Alex Pettyfer, Lucas Till and Jeremy Irvine, but it sounds like they're out of the running and we haven't seen any updates on that front since then.

Divergent is the first book in a planned trilogy. The second book Insurgent arrived last fall, and the third book (yet to be titled but available for pre-order) is set to be published this October.