Watch the 1st teaser trailer for Steven Spielberg's upcoming adaptation of 'West Side Story'

• The first teaser trailer for Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story" aired during the Oscars on Sunday.
• The film stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler as Tony and Maria, respectively.
• "West Side Story," previously delayed a full year, will premiere in theaters on December 10, 2021.

The first trailer for Steven Spielberg's upcoming adaptation of "West Side Story" aired during the 93rd annual Academy Awards on Sunday.

The 20th Century Fox film follows two starcrossed teenagers, Tony Wyzek (Ansel Elgort) and Maria Nunez (Rachel Zegler), as they fall in love despite each having ties to rival street gangs in 1950s New York City. Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, Corey Stoll, and Brian d'Arcy James have been cast in the 2021 movie as well.

Spielberg directed and coproduced the film, while Tony Kushner ("Angels in America," "Munich," and "Lincoln") wrote the screenplay. Justin Peck, the acting resident choreographer of the New York City Ballet, choreographed the on-screen numbers.

Spielberg's "West Side Story" is an adaptation of the award-winning 1957 Broadway musical of the same name.

The play - written by Arthur Laurents with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim - is loosely based on William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." Upon its release on Broadway, "West Side Story" was nominated for six Tony Awards, winning best choreography and best scenic design.

Codirectors Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins brought the popular play to the big screen in 1961. Their reimagination of "West Side Story" received 11 Academy Award nominations and swept 10 categories, including best picture, best director, and best original musical.

EGOT winner Rita Moreno, who won best supporting actress for her performance as Anita in the 1961 movie, will appear in Spielberg's upcoming production as a brand new character named Valentina, according to Deadline. She's also serving as an executive producer on the 2021 adaptation.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I see myself revisiting this seminal work," Moreno told the outlet. "And to be asked by Steven Spielberg to participate is simply thrilling! Then to work together with the brilliant playwright, Tony Kushner - what a glorious stew! I am tingling!"

For Spielberg, "West Side Story" is a passion project. During a March 2020 interview with Vanity Fair, the director said Bernstein's tunes and Sondheim's lyrics left an influential mark on him as a young boy.

"I grew up surrounded by classical music. 'West Side Story' was actually the first piece of popular music our family ever allowed into the home. I absconded with it - this was the cast album from the 1957 Broadway musical-and just fell completely in love with it as a kid," he said.

Spielberg added, "'West Side Story' has been that one haunting temptation that I have finally given in to."

Initially slotted for release in December 2020, "West Side Story" was pushed back a full calendar year and will premiere in theaters on December 10, 2021.