Ansel Elgort Cried When He Was Cast In The West Side Story Remake

Ansel Elgort has a lot going on now. Not only does his film, The Goldfinch, hit theaters this Friday (September 13), yet fans have also been awaiting more specifics about Steven Spielberg's West Side Story remake. Unfortunately, the remake isn't coming out up until December 2020. And while intelligence about the movie is slim, the actor did reveal that he cried upon hearing that he was cast as Tony.

Elgort spilled all about being cast in the musical throughout an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday (September 10). "I got a call, and I get a lot of unknown phone calls because I've had the same number since sixth grade," he mentioned. " ... And I get this unknown number. For some reason, I answer it, and then they mention, 'Hi Ansel, Steven Spielberg wants converse with you.' And I had already been auditioning a lot at the time and I had been fighting for this role, plus it was Steven."

Despite Spielberg calling him personally, Elgort still was unsure he got the part — especially since his tone proposed otherwise. Still, the Fault in Our Stars actor was grateful to be speaking with the legendary filmmaker at all. "His tone group kind of implied that maybe I wasn't going to get the role, nevertheless I was still so happy that he would call me and tell me I didn't get it," Elgort mentioned. "... And then it turned into that I did get it."

As a huge musical theater fan, Elgort was thrilled over the news. "I was so happy and I couldn't tell anyone," he mentioned. Nevertheless I called my mom and dad and cried a little and it also was fantastic Even better is the fact that this actually isn't Elgort's first time acting in West Side Story. Once I was 12 years old, I was in West Side Story at theater camp," he instructed them late-night host.

Despite being a seasoned West Side Story veteran, though, Elgort still can't believe he gets to work with Spielberg directly, who's one of the most iconic, well-known figures in recent film history. "It's unthinkable he mentioned. "I am pinching myself constantly any time I'm talking to him and he's directing me." What a dream come true!