• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • GMA3: WYNTK
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2025 ABC News
  • Culture

Meet 'West Side Story' remake's new Maria: 17-year-old Colombian-American singer Rachel Zegler wowed Spielberg

1:21
'West Side Story' remake: Latinx teen Rachel Zegler to play Maria
Rachel Zegler/YouTube
Michael Rothman
ByMichael Rothman
January 16, 2019, 4:31 PM

High school student, singer and actress Rachel Zegler has been cast in the lead role of Steven Spielberg's planned "West Side Story."

The remake of the 1961 film about rival gangs in New York City and a forbidden love affair has already cast A-listers such as Ansel Elgort and Rita Moreno, and now a 17-year-old star on the rise has joined the team.

Related Articles

(MORE: Take it from Gina Rodriguez: I am the educated Latina you've been warned about)

Zegler, a Colombian-American singer and actress, has about 50,000 social media followers -- and that number is about to skyrocket after the huge news.

But she was a sensation before Spielberg took note of her talent, going viral for signing cover songs from the likes of Lady Gaga.

Related Articles

(MORE: Hillary Clinton gets a new role: Executive producer with Steven Spielberg)

Check out this video with a whopping 352,000 likes!

After news of the casting hit, stars like Sterling K. Brown and Zach Braff took to Twitter to congratulate her.

Rita Moreno, who starred in the original film, is executive producing this remake. She, along with Spielberg, has been praised for casting Latinx actors in key roles, unlike the original film.

In fact, Zegler went to an open casting call for Latinx actresses with 30,000 other young ladies to win the part.

Ariana DeBose, whose father is Puerto Rican and mother is white, has also been cast in the film, along with David Alvarez.

Talk about a true "A Star Is Born" moment! Take a bow, young lady.

Up Next in Culture—

2025 Emmy Awards nominations: How to watch and more

July 14, 2025

'Harry Potter' HBO series starts production, casts Neville Longbottom

July 14, 2025

Michael Strahan announced as guest judge on 'Shark Tank' season 17

July 14, 2025

Megan Thee Stallion and NBA star Klay Thompson are dating: Source

July 14, 2025

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2025 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2025 ABC News