UPDATE (22/3): West Side Story star Rachel Zegler has finally secured her 2022 Oscar invitation. According to The Hollywood ReporterThe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has asked the actress to be the presenter during this year’s show.
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Rachel Zegler, who stars as Maria in the best film-nominated film West Side Storysays she was not invited to the Academy Awards ceremony scheduled for Sunday, March 27th. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences did not return Rolling stones‘s request for comment.
“I’ve tried it all, but it does not seem to be happening,” Zegler wrote on Instagram in response to a fan curious about her Oscar red carpet look. “I want to mess around West Side Story from my sofa and be proud of the work we did so tirelessly three years ago. ”
West Side Story is up to seven awards at the 2022 Academy Awards, and acts as the leader of this year’s Oscar nominees along with The power of the dog and Dune. Its nominations include Best Director for Steven Spielberg, Best Sound, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design and Best Supporting Actress for Ariana DeBose.
“I hope a miracle happens at the last minute and I can celebrate our film in person, but hey, that’s how it goes sometimes,” Zegler continued. “Thank you for all the shock and outrage – I’m also disappointed. But it’s okay. So proud of our film.”
Less than two years ago, the academy announced new standards of diversity and inclusion for qualifying for the Oscar for Best Picture. Some of the newly established criteria require that films considered in the category must include two of four standards: on-screen representation, themes, and narratives; creative management and project teams; industry access and opportunities; and audience development.
The 2022 Oscars are the first ceremony to include these standards, although it will not be necessary to meet the inclusion thresholds before 2024. The standard for on-screen representation, themes and narratives requires that at least one of the protagonists or significant supporting roles be from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group; the general ensemble cast includes 30 percent of the actors from at least two under-represented groups; and / or the film’s main theme or narrative is centered on underrepresented groups.
IN West Side Story, Spielberg brings the stage musical of the same name from 1957 to the big screen. While rival street gangs in the Fifties’ Upper West Side New York City – the Jets and Puerto Rican Sharks – create problems in their mutual contempt, star-crossed lovers Tony (Ansel Elgort) and María (Zegler) fall in love despite their respective affiliations.