Mike Faist of Dear Evan Hansen Joins Spielberg's West Side Story

Steven Spielberg's West Side Story film has announced additional casting, with more than 50 performers joining the film as the ensemble cast of Sharks and Jets, the rival street gangs at the center of the show's story.

The role of Riff, the leader of the Jets, will be played by Mike Faist, who is best known for originating roles in the Broadway productions of Dear Evan Hansen and Newsies. Puerto Rican singer, actor, and dancer Ana Isabelle will play Rosalia, who works with Maria. More Broadway alums joining the cast include Ben Cook, Eloise Kropp, and more.

More newly announced cast members include the Sharks: David Aviles Morales, Yesenia Ayala, María Alejandra Castillo, Annelise Cepero, Andrei Chagas, Jeanette Delgado, Kelvin Delgado, Gaby Diaz, Yurel Echezarreta, Adriel Flete, Carlos E. Gonzalez, David Guzman, Jacob Guzman, Ana Isabelle, Melody Martí, Ilda Mason, Juliette Feliciano Ortiz, Edriz E. Rosa Pérez, Maria Alexis Rodriguez, Julius Anthony Rubio, Carlos Sánchez Falú, Sebastian Serra, Gabriela Soto, Ricky Ubeda, Tanairi Vazquez, Jamila Velazquez, Isabella Ward, and Ricardo Zayas.

The Jets include Brianna Abruzzo, Kyle Allen, Kyle Coffman, Ben Cook, Harrison Coll, Kevin Csolak, Kellie Drobnick, Julian Elia, Myles Erlick, Leigh-Ann Esty, Sara Esty, Mike Faist, John Michael Fiumara, Paloma Garcia-Lee, Garett Hawe, Patrick Higgins, Sean Harrison Jones, Eloise Kropp, Lauren Leach, Jess LeProtto, Skye Mattox, Ezra Menas, Adriana Pierce, Brittany Pollack, Daniel Patrick Russell, Talia Ryder, Jonalyn Saxer, Halli Toland, and Maddie Ziegler.

These actors, singers, and dancers will join previously announced cast members Rita Moreno (Valentina), Ansel Elgort (Tony), Rachel Zegler (Maria), Ariana DeBose (Anita), David Alvarez (Bernardo), Josh Andrés Rivera (Chino), Corey Stoll (Lieutenant Schrank) and Brian d'Arcy James (Sergeant Krupke).

West Side Story, which debuted on Broadway in 1957, was written by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents. The 1961 film was directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. Spielberg, Kevin McCollum and Kristie Macosko Krieger will produce the new movie musical, which will be released by Twentieth Century Fox. The film, which begins shooting this summer, is adapted for the screen by Tony Kushner, and will feature choreography by Tony winner Justin Peck.