Character sheet for Steven Spielberg's 2021 film West Side Story. The character sheet for the original stage show and 1961 film is here.
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Main Characters
Tony
Anton "Tony" Wyzek
Portrayed by: Ansel Elgort
"It's like I'm always just about to fall off the edge of the world's tallest building. I stopped fallin' the second I saw you."
The hero. He is the former leader of the Jets, who now works for Valentina after a year in jail. He falls in love with María.
- Adaptational Backstory Change: Here, Tony distancing himself from the Jets stems from him having served a jail sentence for nearly beating a member of a rival gang to death and wanting to avoid the experience again rather than simply growing tired of gang life.
- Adaptational Badass: In the 1961 film and stage version, we never actually see him fight until he kills Bernardo, who is non-resistant due to his shock over just killing Riff. In this version, he fights back against Bernardo while trying to reason with him and ultimately has him on the ground before he realizes what he's doing. He also gets to partake in some of the Jets' famous choreography, as "Cool" is changed to an attempt by him to convince Riff to call off the rumble.
- Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: His relationships with Riff, María, and Anybodys are given an overhaul in this version of the story.
- In the stage version and 1961 film, it's clear that while Tony left the Jets, his friendship with Riff is still strong and they have each other's backs no matter what. In this film, Tony going to prison and then leaving the gang has caused a much deeper strain and this results in multiple arguments between the two, culminating in "Cool" being an attempt by Tony to convince Riff to call off the rumble.
- Tony takes María on an actual date the day after the dance, where they visit the Cloisters museum and he tells her about his past, saying he's done with the gang life. He also takes the time to learn a number of Spanish phrases so that he can better communicate with her in her native language. In the stage version and 1961 film, they meet at the bridal shop where she works, and they already start planning a wedding.
- While Tony was generally nicer to Anybodys in the previous versions, here it's made clear that the two are genuinely friends, as exemplified by when they warmly hug each other at the dance. Tony is also the only one who doesn't mistreat Anybodys for being trans, and it's mentioned that he was in favor of Anybodys joining the Jets before he was sent to prison.
- Adaptational Personality Change: He's much more cynical when he first appears than he is in the other versions. This is due to him being five months out of prison and trying to put his life back together. Even after he meets María this attitude doesn't completely go away. When he tells Valentina about his and María's plan to flee to the countryside, it comes across more as him trying to convince himself everything will turn out okay rather than him honestly believing it.
- Ambiguously Absent Parent: Unlike the previous versions, where it's mentioned that Riff is staying with Tony's family, neither of Tony's parents are mentioned. Because he stays in the basement of Doc's as he has nowhere to go, it's hinted that his parents are dead.
- Beware the Nice Ones: He's a friendly guy who is well liked by most. But he's also a former gang leader who is fresh out of prison for nearly beating a kid to death and when Bernardo goads him into a fight, Tony is able to beat him into a pulp.
- The Big Guy: He already did time for nearly killing a rival gang member in a brawl when the movie starts, and Riff seems to trust in his strength totally, handing over the gun he spent so much effort getting and keeping immediately when he thinks Tony has his back at the rumble. It's not hard to see why, either: Tony's one of the biggest men in either gang, and when it comes down to it he's able to handily beat Bernardo, a prolific boxer, in a brawl.
- Brief Accent Imitation: He puts on a Puerto Rican accent while repeating Valentina's words about how he should stay away from Riff and the Jets.
- Combat Pragmatist: When Bernardo finally goads Tony into fighting him, Tony wins by taking advantage of his larger size to tackle Bernardo and pin him to the ground before delivering several punches to the head.
- Go Out with a Smile: In this version, he smiles as he dies from his gunshot wounds because he's just happy that María isn't dead after all.
- Hidden Depths: His cot in the basement has magazine clippings about outer space as decorations. Given how he and Riff refer to each other as Superman and Batman, respectively, it's also clear the two are fans of comic books.
- Huge Guy, Tiny Girl: Ansel Elgort is a full foot taller than Rachel Zegler, and María lampshades the height difference in their first dance.
- Made of Iron: Bernardo hits him with five sucker punches, the last of which was hard enough to cut Tony's head open and knock him back into Riff's arms, seemingly unconscious. Despite this, Tony is able to get back up easily and, now that he's enraged enough to actually fight, give Bernardo a No-Holds-Barred Beatdown.
- My God, What Have I Done?: He had gone to prison after he nearly beat a rival gang member to death, and the fact that he nearly killed someone is the main reason for him distancing himself from the Jets. He's also horrified that he killed Bernardo in a moment of blind rage, and intends to turn himself in before María talks him out of it.
- Only Sane Man: Thanks to his experience of nearly killing someone and spending a year in jail, Tony is the only one of the teenage males who realizes how senseless and dangerous being a gang member really is. When he learns Riff has acquired a gun, he's horrified both by the damage it could cause and the serious legal troubles it could get him into.
- Reformed Criminal: While he's already left the gang life behind him in all versions of the story, in the 2021 film, he's spent a year in jail and is deeply troubled by the things he did while he was with the Jets. He also is worried about getting in trouble with his parole officer when Riff tries to get him to come to the dance.
- Sex Equals Death: While most productions may imply what happens between Tony and Maria after "Somewhere," in this version, it's quite clear that they have sex. He ends up dead a short time later.
María
María Vasquez
Portrayed by: Rachel Zegler
"This is my first time dancing in New York City, so you tell me. Is it OK?"
The heroine. María is the younger sister of Sharks leader Bernardo, and wants more for herself than what he has planned for her.
- Adaptational Intelligence: In the 2021 film, she's much more aware that dating Tony is only going to cause problems between his friends and her brother, as well as the racism that the Puerto Rican community faces in America. She also shows some intellectual curiosity during her date with Tony at the Cloisters museum and mentions that she wants to take classes at City College during her argument with Bernardo. At the end of the film, she's the one who comes up with the plan to get help from Valentina in leaving the city.
- Adaptational Job Change: In the 1961 film and stage version, María works in a bridal shop. In the 2021 film, she's a cleaner at Gimbels, an upscale department store.
- Adaptational Personality Change: Like Tony, she's more cynical in the 2021 film, which is due to her frustration that Bernardo refuses to let her pursue her own dreams to go to college and find her own love. She's also more assertive than the usual, as shown when she isn't afraid to call out Bernardo for embarrassing her at the dance with his behavior towards Tony.
- Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: Her relationships with Tony, Bernardo, and Chino are given an overhaul in the 2021 film.
- Her Love at First Sight with Tony is severely downplayed. While she enjoys the dance with Tony and is clearly smitten, she's startled when she finds him singing outside her apartment and asks (in Spanish) how he knew where she lives (it's a coincidence that he ended up at her place by wandering, but still, not a good first impression). In the script, it's mentioned that much of her dialogue in the balcony scene is meant to be mock-serious or playful teasing. It isn't until the end of "Tonight" that she really begins to reciprocate his feelings, and her date with Tony truly cements their love.
- Her relationship with Bernardo is also more strained, due to his controlling nature over her life. She isn't afraid to call him out for embarrassing her at the dance with his behavior towards Tony.
- In the previous versions, María is betrothed to Chino, despite only living in New York for a month. In this version, there's no mention of their engagement, though it's clear Bernardo expects her to get married and start making babies as soon as possible. In addition, she's actually flattered by Chino's politeness and amused by his geeky persona, and she's shown to be enjoying herself when she dances with him.
- Adapted Out: Her and Bernardo's parents, who are clearly established to be living with them in the previous versions, while here, Bernardo, María, and Anita live by themselves. María mentions that she took care of their Papi for five years while Bernardo was in New York, suggesting that their parents are dead.
- Big "NO!": She screams "NOOO!" when she sees Chino coming up behind Tony with the gun.
- Captain Obvious: She remarks that Tony isn't Puerto Rican, much to his amusement.
- Huge Guy, Tiny Girl: Ansel Elgort is a full foot taller than Rachel Zegler, and María lampshades the height difference in their first dance.
- Iconic Outfit: As with the other versions, she wears a white dress, red belt, and crucifix necklace to the dance.
- Informed Flaw: Invoked. Bernardo tells Chino that María is bossy, but considering how controlling he is of her life, it's likely he's projecting his own flaws onto her and takes any attempt by María to assert herself as an example of her "bossiness."
- Innocent Soprano: Even though she's somewhat cynical, Maria is still very romantic in this tale of Star-Crossed Lovers, and the part fittingly calls for a strong soprano.
- The Ingenue: The character is a straight example in the source material, but this version plays with the trope. Everyone treats María as though she is a young, sheltered, naive girl when the truth is she's an intelligent young woman who could easily take care of herself were she not kept under Bernardo's thumb. In fact, a lot of her feelings towards Tony seem to stem from the fact he actually respects her as an individual and doesn't treat her with Condescending Compassion like the Puerto Ricans.
- Letting Her Hair Down: María is introduced with her hair in a bun, but she lets it down as she gets ready for the dance.
- Nice Girl: Despite her cynical and sassy nature, she is still sweet, kind and only wants everyone to live in peace with one another, even though she knows it's hard.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: She tells off Bernardo the morning after the dance for trying to control her life.Bernardo: ¡Te prohíbo ver a ese estúpido Polack! *
María: Maybe Chino and your friends fall down at your feet and maybe you scare the Americanos when you make fists and angry faces, pero yo no estoy interesada ni en boxeo ni en peleas. ¡Y tú no eres mi jefe! *And I'm not interested in what you have to say. - Rebellious Princess: Bernardo treats her like a princess, pure and innocent, much to her chagrin. But María sneakily puts on lipstick when he refused to let her wear makeup.
- True Blue Femininity: She wears a blue dress for the final scenes, unlike the red she dons in most other versions. As blue is associated with Tony in this version, it represents her allegiance with him.
- Wise Beyond Their Years: María is 18, but is more mature than she has previously been depicted. She mentions that she had been taking care of her father since she was six, implying that her mother died when she was young, and had been with him alone for five years while Bernardo was in New York.
Major Supporting Characters
Riff
Riff Lorton
Portrayed by: Mike Faist
"I wake up to everything I know either getting sold or wrecked or being taken over by people that I don't like and they don't like me. And you know what's left outta all that? The Jets."
Tony's lifelong best friend and the current leader of the Jets. He refuses to accept that Tony doesn't want anything to do with the gang anymore and keeps trying to bring him back into the fold.
- Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: His friendship with Tony. In the previous versions, it's clear that while Tony has left the gang life behind him, his friendship with Riff is still strong and they have each other's back no matter what. In this version, Tony being sent to prison and then leaving the Jets has caused a much deeper strain, resulting in multiple arguments between the two.
- Adaptational Badass: In the other versions, Ice/Diesel is the one who usually fights Bernardo due to him being the Jets' top fighter. Here, Riff has no problems taking the fight to Bernardo, who is also given this treatment in this film, himself during both the Prologue and the beginning of The Rumble.
- Adaptational Jerkass: In the previous versions, Riff tries to convince Tony to come to the dance out of a genuine show of friendship, even encouraging him by suggesting that whatever he's waiting for might be there. Here, he doesn't care that Tony is looking to move on and he uses some emotional manipulation to get Tony to come."Womb to tomb? Wasn't never a joke for me."
- Adaptational Personality Change: In the stage version and 1961 film, he has a general cocky swagger that comes from being young and feeling invincible. In the 2021 film, he has a far more nihilistic outlook on life, outright telling Tony that he fully expects to die young.
- Adaptational Villainy: In the 1961 film and the stage version, his hatred is directed only towards the Sharks and he's never seen engaging in any crimes outside of fighting. In the 2021 film, he's much more bigoted towards Puerto Ricans in general, having the Jets engage in petty crimes and harassment against a number of them as they walk through their neighborhood. Valentina also mentions that he's been shoplifting from her since he was six years old.
- Ambiguously Absent Parent: His uncle who he hates, that he says is the reason he doesn't stop staying with Tony's family, is not mentioned. Based on Rory's comment, it's likely that Riff's dad is long dead.
- Batter Up!: Riff chooses a baseball bat as his weapon of choice for the rumble, and wields it like a Staff of Authority.
- Blatant Lies: He describes himself to Valentina as a paying customer, even when he's in the middle of stealing a Milky Way.
- Death Seeker: Implied Trope. When Rory holds the gun on him, Riff presses his forehead against the barrel and tries to goad him into pulling the trigger. He also tells Tony that he doesn't expect to grow up, and will instead die young. When he's stabbed by Bernardo, he almost looks relieved.Tony: When are you gonna grow up?
Riff: Never, probably. Born to die young, daddy-o. - Everyone Has Standards: Despite the arguments he's had with Tony, Riff is visibly disturbed to see Bernardo beating the crap out of him while he refuses to fight back, at one point offering himself as a more worthy opponent. Him having standards is also Implied later at Doc's drugstore when Valentina tells the Jets that they dishonor their dead, suggesting that, for all his flaws, Riff would never have gone as low as to commit sexual assault.
- A Father to His Men: He's hugely respected and admired by the rest of his gang, while Riff explicity refers to the group as a "family". He takes the time to inspect Baby John's ear injury and gives some encouraging words.Riff: That's gonna scar, buddy boy.
Baby John: (smiles) You think so?
Riff: Frankenstein time! - Hidden Depths: Him choosing a bat as his weapon for the rumble and asking Tony if his presence there is "The Shot Heard Round the World
" suggests that he enjoys baseball. - I Gave My Word: He ropes Tony into coming to the dance by telling him that he already told the rest of the Jets that he'd be there, and later convinces Bernardo that Tony will be at the rumble too. However, while he agrees with Bernardo not to have knives at the rumble, he does bring a gun which is even more dangerous.
- I Reject Your Reality: All of the Jets have accepted that Tony is done with them, but Riff insists he'll eventually come back. He comes to realize this at the end of "Cool," when Tony tries to get him to stop the rumble.
- Lack of Empathy: After Tony talks about how he's had time to reflect and wants to become a better person, Riff derisively replies "You're just too deep for me, kid."
- The Lancer: It's implied that the Jets started with Tony as the leader and Riff as his right-hand man, with Riff only taking over after Tony went to prison. Riff even tries to convince him to take command at the rumble. After "Cool," there's mentions in the script that Riff now realizes that the Jets are his gang, not Tony's anymore.
- Lean and Mean: He's a tough gang member with the build of someone who's lived a life of poverty and struggle. Mike Faist even reportedly dropped another twenty pounds from his already skinny frame to achieve the look he wanted for Riff, only stopping at Steven Spielberg's request out of concern for his health.
- Like Father, Like Son: After Riff responds to Rory pointing the gun at him by pressing his head against the barrel and telling him to shoot, Rory chuckles and says Riff reminds him of his father.
- Mirror Character: To Bernardo, even moreso than in the other versions. Both of them are troubled young men who care very much for their friends, but are also very stubborn and refuse to look beyond their "us against the entire world" mindsets. This is further emphasized by the fact both of them wear similar clothing, including sleeveless shirts and crucifix necklaces.
- Motive Rant: He gives a little speech to Tony about why he's so entrenched in staying with the Jets and in the Upper West Side even though it's all being torn down around them."I don't know who I am, and who cares who I am? Nobody, includin' me. I know that this dust that's covering everything now? That's the four-story buildings that was standing here when you went upstate a year ago. You know, I wake up to everything I know either gettin' sold or wrecked or bein' taken over by people that I don't like. And they don't like me. And you know what's left, outa alla that? The Jets. My guys. My guys who're just like me. (slams a can down in front of Tony) Who are just like you."
- My God, What Have I Done?: His somber expression when he sees Tony conflicted about beating up Bernardo while he has him at his mercy implies that he finally understands everything Tony was trying to tell him earlier and he regrets getting him involved with the Jets' activities again. When Tony tries leaving right after, he not only lets him go without complaint but also tries to stop an enraged Bernardo from going after him.
- Persona Non Grata: He was banned by Valentina for shoplifting and trying to get Tony back into the Jets.
- Properly Paranoid: While he and Bernardo ostensibly agree not to bring knives to the rumble, it's clear that Riff expects the Sharks to break the agreement, which is why he goes to buy a gun from Abe and Rory. He's later proven right when Bernardo takes out a switchblade after hearing another one getting thrown onto the ground.
- Take Me Instead: As with the other versions, Riff tries to defend Tony when it becomes clear he won't fight back against Bernardo.
- Toxic Friend Influence: Riff has always had elements of this, but it's amplified in the 2021 film, to the point that Valentina had told him not to see Tony because she knows he's a bad influence.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: With Tony. It's clear that Tony going to prison and then leaving the Jets has caused a significant strain on their friendship.
Bernardo
Bernardo Vasquez
Portrayed by: David Alvarez
"Last night I dreamed I was back in Puerto Rico. In my dream we had six kids."
María's well-meaning but controlling older brother, who emigrated from Puerto Rico five years before she did. In addition to being the leader of the Sharks, he's an up-and-coming boxer and boyfriend to Anita.
- Adaptational Heroism: Played With in this film. On the one hand, Bernardo is a local boxer and considered something of a hero amongst his community, as he and the Sharks defend the area from the harassment and petty thefts of the Jets. He is also aware that the gang life is not ideal and had convinced Chino not to join the Sharks, recognizing that he had a better chance at life by staying in school. However, as explained under Adaptational Jerkass, his treatment of María and Tony is worse than it is in other adaptations.
- Adaptational Jerkass: In this film, he's a Straw Misogynist whose treatment of María is less "being protective of his younger sister" and more "being a sexist Control Freak". He refuses to let her pursue her own dreams, like attending college or finding her own love. Additionally, in the original musical and 1961 film, he and Tony are familiar with each other because of Tony's previous dealings with the Jets. Thus, Bernardo's suspicions of him are somewhat understandable. In the 2021 film, he had never met Tony before the dance and thus has no knowledge of his past association with the Jets. His hatred towards him comes entirely from the fact that he's white.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: He agrees to the rumble not to keep the Jets out of the Puerto Rican community for good, but so that he can fight Tony for dancing with María. He gets his wish, but he's overpowered by Tony in a fistfight and is later killed by him.
- Big Entrance: He is unseen in the prologue, which features the Sharks rushing in to drive away the Jets as they vandalize a Puerto Rican flag mural. Once the two gangs start to brawl in an empty lot, Bernardo climbs up ready to join the fray and heads right for Riff in a more dramatic fashion.
- Break the Haughty: He starts off as a confident, charismatic professional boxer and leader of his gang who is widely respected by the Puerto Rican community and thinks he can control María, Anita, and Chino's lives. But by the rumble, he's first given a humiliating beatdown by Tony that turns him into a raving Sore Loser before being reduced to a sobbing mess due to his horror over killing Riff.
- Broken Pedestal: After his death, while the Sharks still view Bernardo as a hero for defending Puerto Rican pride, Chino calls him a fool for letting the Jets' bigotry get to him and accepting a fight that ultimately killed him. Quique concedes that Bernardo should have realized that the world is a lot bigger than just the few blocks that make up their neighborhood.Chino: If those nobodies can take your pride away from you, tú eres más estúpido que Bernardo. *
- Everyone Has Standards:
- He's refused to let Chino join the Sharks because he recognizes that, unlike most of them, Chino's intelligence and work ethic give him a real chance of becoming successful in America and getting mixed up in the fighting could ruin it. Tragically, he proves to be 100% correct.
- Even though he most likely doesn't like Anybodys due to his involvement with the Jets, he stands up for him and berates Tiger and Numbers for calling him a 'lesbo'.
- Everything Is Racist: Five years of living in New York City has made him suspicious of anyone who's not Puerto Rican and caused him to think any slight against him and his community (real or imagined) is because of racism. He also thinks Tony is going to take advantage of María and is aggressive before he's even had a chance to introduce himself.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: He's killed with his own knife after Tony pulls it out of Riff's body.
- Hypocrite:
- He is clearly offended by the Jets calling him and the other Puerto Ricans "Spics", but has no problem calling Tony a "Polack." Anita points out his hypocrisy and jokes that using ethnic slurs makes him sound like a true American.
- He looks down on the Jets for being a gang of aimless delinquents and boasts about how he and the Sharks have jobs. While that's true with many of the Sharks, a few of them, such as Flaco, Junior, and Tino, are delinquents who play hooky or don't work so can they spend all of their time with the gang.
- In addition, Bernardo had convinced Chino not to join the Sharks because he knows how self-destructive the gang life is, and tells him he has a better chance at life by going to school. However, Bernardo is shown to have a promising young career as a boxer, which means it's really not in his best interest to be in a gang either since any arrests could easily lead to his boxing license being revoked.
- When Tony initially does not show up to the rumble, Bernardo calls out Riff on not keeping to their agreement he'd be there. Later on, it's revealed Bernardo himself broke their agreement, one that he insisted on no less, that the gangs wouldn't bring knives to the rumble.
- While he hates Tony from the moment he first sees him, it becomes more intense once he learns that Tony is an ex-convict. Bernardo himself has broken the law several times over, including the very moment when he learns of Tony's imprisonment during the rumble, and has only avoided imprisonment because he either wasn't caught or the police decided to be lenient.
- Jerkass Has a Point:
- When Krupke chides the Sharks for being vigilantes, telling them to call the cops like good citizens, Bernardo replies that the cops are never around when they need them, and even if they do call them, they're more likely to arrest the Puerto Ricans.
- Like in the 1961 film, he's the second soloist for "America," and he sings about the racism that Puerto Ricans face in New York, which is an entirely valid point.
- When Tony initially fails to show up at the rumble, Bernardo rightly calls Riff out on not upholding his promise he'd be there and asks how he can now trust that the Jets will stick to the terms of the rumble if the Sharks win.
- The Leader: The respected head of the Sharks. Bernardo is a local boxer and thus a hero among his community for defending them against the Jets.
- Mirror Character: To Riff, even moreso than in the other versions. Both of them are troubled young men who care very much for their friends, but are also very stubborn and refuse to look beyond their "us against the entire world" mindsets. This is further emphasized by the fact both of them wear similar clothing, including sleeveless shirts and crucifix necklaces.
- Motive Decay: He formed the Sharks to defend the Puerto Rican community from the bigoted Jets. However, his desire for the rumble is more so that he can fight Tony for dancing with María, rather than keeping the Jets out of their way for good.
- Named by the Adaptation: He and María have the surname Vasquez here; you can see it on the boxing poster in their apartment.
- Pet the Dog: Despite his controlling nature towards Anita and María, he at least understands that María doesn't want to date someone who's like him, and takes this into account when he sets her up with Chino.
- Precision F-Strike: He describes the Jets as "hijueputas", which roughly translates to "motherfuckers."
- Straw Misogynist: While he was misogynistic in both the original musical and 1961 film, it's much more prominent in this version of the story. He forbids María from pursuing her own dreams like getting a college education or finding her own love in favor of him choosing her suitor so she can get married and become a mother as soon as possible. He also wants Anita to give up on her dream of owning a dress shop and instead move back to Puerto Rico where she can have at least six children for him, despite her clearly not being on board with the idea. He also considers the apartment the three of them live in "his house", even though both Anita and Maria help pay the rent as he pursues his boxing career. He also makes derogatory comments about the Jets' girlfriends.
- Too Dumb to Live: Even after Tony proves that he can easily overpower him, and decides to show him mercy by walking away, Bernardo still tries to provoke him into fighting. This results in the knife fight between him and Riff, which ultimately kills them both. Justified as Bernardo is so clearly blinded by his hatred that he isn't thinking rationally.
- Worf Had the Flu: Bernardo is a boxer and thus is a formidable opponent when he fights Tony. However, their fight is not a boxing match, and Tony has no problem using other tactics to ultimately gain the upper hand against him.
Anita
Anita Palacio
Portrayed by: Ariana DeBose
"You want to know where my home is? It's where I pay rent. Right here, where I work my fingers raw mending pants and hemming neckties so that I can earn enough money to pay other girls to sew for me so that someday I can rent a shop of my own in this great big beautiful Nueva York!"
Bernardo's girlfriend and an older sister figure to María. She works as a seamstress.
- Break the Cutie: In one night, she loses the man that she loves and is nearly raped. It's little wonder that she decides to move back to Puerto Rico.
- Character Tic: She has a habit of snapping her fingers before she says something.
- Heroic BSoD: Clearly goes through this after Bernardo's death. Any time she's alone, she's visibly shaking and struggling to speak.
- Ironic Echo: She repeatedly tells Bernardo and María to speak English, and gets these words thrown back at her when Lieutenant Schrank questions the girls after Bernardo's death.
- Karma Houdini: Faces no repercussions for her responsibility in Tony’s murder by lying that Chino killed Maria, leading a suicidal Tony into the wrong place at the wrong time.
- Race Lift: Even with the Latino Is Brown trope in effect for previous West Side Story presentations, the 2021 incarnation of Anita stands out from the rest due to being portrayed by Afro-Latina actress Ariana DeBose. She faces additional racism from the Jets because of this.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: She gives one to Bernardo for his Straw Misogynist views towards her and María."You want to know where my home is? It's where I pay rent. Right here, where I work my fingers raw mending pants and hemming neckties so that I can earn enough money to pay other girls to sew for me, so that someday I can rent a shop of my own in this great, big beautiful Nueva York! And if you think that I’m going back home to Puerto Rico with six kids that I put to bed hungry every night, amor de mi vida *, you're dreaming!"
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: After all the trauma she goes through she decides she's done with America and intends on moving back to Puerto Rico."Yo no soy americana. ¡Yo soy puertorriqueña!" *
- Spicy Latina: A proud Puerto Rican woman who is saucy, fashionable, and a great dancer. She is in a happy and sensual relationship with Bernardo, and more assertive and experienced than the younger María.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Zig zagged example. After nearly getting raped near the end, decides to lie in her message to Valentina that Chino murdered Maria, causing Tony to go suicidal, ultimately getting shot by Chino. That said, after said near rape, she may have also given up on forgiving Tony, seeing him as complicit.
Chino
Chino Martin
Portrayed by: Josh Andrés Rivera
"María can't like a lambeojo*who just works day and night and never stands up like her brother does."
A good friend of Bernardo's, whom he tries to set up with María. Though he is not an official member of the Sharks in this version (as Bernardo forbids it), Chino allies himself with them throughout the film.
- Adaptational Nice Guy: He's not a gang member in this version, but a nice young man who's just trying to earn an honest living by going to school. After Bernardo angrily breaks up the dance between Tony and María, he calmly and politely asks if she'd like to stay or go home. He helps Tony get into the rumble at the salt shed and isn't overtly hostile to him until after Tony kills Bernardo.
- Adaptation Relationship Overhaul:
- In the stage version and 1961 film, Chino is betrothed to María, which she is unhappy about because she wants to find her own romance. In the 2021 film, there's no mention of this. Bernardo sets María up with his best friend for the dance. In addition, María is flattered by Chino's politeness and amused by his geeky persona, and even joins in with him as he starts to dance, suggesting that, had Tony not noticed her at that moment, things probably would have gone well between them.
- In the 1961 film, Tony seems to already know Chino, while this film implies that they don't know each other. In addition, Chino doesn't seem to have any resentment towards Tony for María dancing with him.
- Adaptational Wimp: In the 2021 film, he's a much more geeky, soft-spoken and awkward person. He isn't even a member of the Sharks as Bernardo refuses to let him join so he can focus on night school. His murder of Tony is literally the first and only act of violence he commits.
- Anti-Villain: To an extent. While he spends the second act trying to and eventually managing to kill Tony, he's got an understandable motive in that Tony has murdered his best friend and is in a relationship with his fiancee.
- Ascended Extra: He gets little characterization in the stage version and 1961 film beyond being María's date to the dance and Bernardo's best friend. In the 2021 film, he's fleshed out as a sweet, somewhat geeky young man who's going to school to get an honest job fixing adding machines. He isn't even overtly hostile to Tony when María chooses him, and helps Tony get into the rumble when they both arrive late.
- Boring Yet Practical: He is going to night school to study adding machine repair. Not glamorous, but with all the adding machines in New York City, from Wall Street to the local banks, he'll have a steady stream of work and make decent money.
- Death Seeker: Quique tries to reason with him by saying that if he kills Tony, a gringo, he'll be killed too. Chino's grim response is "Sooner or later, the gringos kill everything."
- Everyone Has Standards: He is disappointed, but understanding, when María chooses Tony over him. When Bernardo becomes enraged enough that it looks like he's going to kill Tony while he's trying to smooth things over, Chino momentarily tries to restrain the Shark leader.
- Foil: Of Tony, thanks to his Ascended Extra status. Both are the best friend of one of the gang leaders, both are in love with María, and both are initially distant from the gang conflict. However, Tony is deliberately separating himself from the gang war because of his past actions and understanding how senseless gang life is, while Chino wants to join the Sharks out of a genuine desire to protect his community and being naive to the dangers. While both witness the death of their best friend at the rumble, Tony realizes the seriousness of his actions and initially intends to turn himself in before María talks him out of it, while Chino becomes consumed by a desire for revenge even though it means throwing away his entire future.
- Graceful Loser: While he's disappointed to realize María isn't into him and would rather be with Tony, he accepts it much easier than anyone else does, and seems willing to let her go and be happy. Then Tony kills Bernardo, and all hell breaks loose.
- I Just Want to Be Badass: He's not a member of the Sharks, but wants to join out of a desire to help protect their community from the Jets. He also thinks that being someone who stands up to bigotry will make María respect him.
- Nerd Glasses: Keeping in line with his new personality, he wears a set of horn-rimmed glasses, which he loses when he becomes determined to kill Tony.
- Nice Guy: He's kind, soft-spoken, and kinda geeky, treating María with respect and never showing anger or animosity to Tony prior to the rumble.
- Non-Action Guy: Despite his desire to join the Sharks and help protect the Puerto Rican community, Chino is not a particularly threatening or imposing guy. When the rumble breaks out into an all-out brawl, he is only clutching Bernardo's dead body, clearly terrified of the violence happening around him.
- Revenge Before Reason: It's clear that he's terrified about killing Tony, but sees no other way to avenge Bernardo. Even when Quique points out the last thing Bernardo would want is for Chino to throw away his future, Chino refuses to back down.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Chino helps Tony get into the rumble after arriving late. This results in the fight escalating, and ultimately leads to the deaths of Riff, Bernardo, and Tony, the last one at Chino's own hands.
Schrank
Lt. Schrank
Portrayed by: Corey Stoll
Dubbed by: Pierre Tessier (European French)
"I realize if any of you helps me out, you might spoil your chance to murder each other over control of this earthly paradise."
A racist cop of the NYPD's 21st Precinct.
- Adaptational Heroism: In the original musical and 1961 film, he was willing to let the rumble unfold long enough for him and his men to show up and arrest all of the gang members. Here, he's disgusted by the idea of the gangs possibly killing each other and tries to stop the whole thing before it can start.
- Bigot with a Badge: As with all other versions of the character, he's openly racist towards the Sharks and Puerto Ricans in general, and also classist towards the proletariat Jets.
- Comically Missing the Point: During his interrogation, he condescendingly repeats María's instructions for Anita to go to Doc's for medicine, to which she rips up a piece of fabric. Schrank then dryly remarks that his wife handles her period with hot tea.
- Everyone Has Standards: He mobilizes the police to stop the rumble because he's disgusted by the idea of the morning papers running stories about dead kids — though the very snide way he says it, then adds "not on my watch", suggests he's well aware that, while some degree of juvenile delinquency is tolerable, an all-out bloody gang war would reflect badly on his precinct if they failed to act.
- It's All About Me: He merely tries to keep the gangs from killing each other because they'll all be displaced once Lincoln Center is built, and he can have a cushy job patrolling a relatively crime-free rich neighborhood.
- Jerkass Has a Point: Despite being a racist, classist douchebag, he's completely right when he points out to both gangs that their war for control over the neighborhood is meaningless because the neighborhood isn't even going to exist in a few years due to the construction of Lincoln Center.
- Lack of Empathy: He's a complete and inconsiderate dick when questioning María and Anita after Bernardo's death. When he allows Anita to leave, under the premise that she needs to get medicine for María's monthly, he coldly remarks that she's not Bernardo's widow, so he doesn't need to speak to her anymore.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: He talks about how other poor, white men were able to climb their way out of the slums, get good jobs, buy nice houses, drive cool cars, and marry beautiful women, while the Jets are the products of the men who couldn't. This speech is particularly noticeable in the fact that he's not telling the Jets that they suck. He's telling them that they shouldn't, because white people have an obligation to not suck."Most of the white guys who grew up in this slum climbed their way out of it: Irish, Italian, Jews. Nowadays their descendants live in nice houses and drive nice cars and date nice girls you'd want to marry. Your dads or your granddads stayed put, drinking and knocking up some local piece who gave birth to you: the last of the Can't-Make-It Caucasians. What's a gang without its terrain, its turf? You're a month or two away from finding out, one step ahead of the wrecking ball. And in this uncertain world, the only thing you can count on is me. I'm here to keep the civil peace until the last building falls, and if you boys make more trouble on my turf, Riff, hand to heart, you're headed to an upstate prison cell for a very long time. By the time you get out, this will be a shiny new neighborhood of rich people in beautiful apartments with Puerto Rican doormen to chase trash like you away."
- Smug Snake: This version of Schrank is much more smug than in the musical and 1961 film because he knows the gangs are going to be displaced soon.
Krupke
Sgt. Krupke
Portrayed by: Brian d'Arcy James
"Yer drivin' me to my grave, ya pack a' jackals!"
An officer under Schrank.- Adaptational Intelligence: He's a lot more on the ball in this version. When he overhears Graziella mention Riff was going to "challenge" someone at the dance, he realizes this means the Jets and the Sharks are going to rumble each other and launches an investigation into it.
- Adaptational Nice Guy: He's much more civil to both gangs than previous iterations of the character and doesn't have any hints of racial bias. He's also shown gently helping Anita fill out the necessary paperwork after Bernardo's death.
- Adults Are Useless: He genuinely wants to help the teens avoid jail. Unfortunately, between the Jets being hardened by their poor home lives, the Sharks being distrustful of the police due to America's racism, and him having to answer to Lt. Schrank, there's not much he can actually do other than beg the gangs to stop fighting.
- Age Lift: He's clearly much older than in the other versions and most of his incompetence stems from his age making him less physically adept than in his younger years.
- Disabled in the Adaptation: He's mentioned to have a few physical ailments in this version. He complains about his ulcers after Anybodys kicks him in the stomach, while Riff makes a crack about his asthma (which may or may not exist) after he breaks up the opening fight.
- Everyone Has Standards: He is disgusted by how the gangs can't even stop trying to fight while at the dance."Whatsa matter with you guys? Pretty girls wantin' a dance, 'n all yiz can think of is to beat up on each other?"
- Reasonable Authority Figure:
- He reprimands Riff and the Jets for going out of their way to harass the Puerto Ricans and tells them to leave the group alone while also chiding Bernardo and the Sharks for being vigilantes, telling them that if they have a problem, they should call the cops and not take it into their own hands. Though he himself upholds the very structures that oppresses both sides in the first place.
- He scolds Tony at the dance because he thinks he's trying to cause trouble with the Puerto Ricans. When Tony explains he was just dancing with María and Bernardo continues to act hostile, Krupke lets Tony go then tells Bernardo to back off since he's clearly acting as the aggressor in this instance.
- Token Good Cop: Thanks to his Adaptational Personality Change. Rather than the bigoted Jerkass he is in the stage musical, here he's an honest cop who looks out for the entire neighborhood and genuinely wants to help both the Jets and the Sharks avoid lives of crime and imprisonment. Meanwhile, his boss Lt. Schrank is still a Bigot with a Badge, wanting to lock up as many gang members (especially the Sharks) as possible to keep crime down until the area is gentrified and he can be in charge of a relatively crime-free neighborhood.
Valentina
Valentina
Portrayed by: Rita Moreno
"Life matters even more than love."
A new character created for the 2021 film, she is Doc's Puerto Rican widow who runs the candy shop following his death and acts as a mentor for both the white and Puerto Rican communities.
- Adaptational Nice Guy: In the previous versions, Doc is rendered so furious by the Jets assaulting Anita that he's unable to delicately tell Tony the false news that María is dead. While Valentina is just as disgusted, she keeps her composure and breaks the news in a much more gentle manner.
- Ascended Extra: In playing Doc's role, she appears in more scenes than him and also gets the song "Somewhere."
- Bigotry Exception: Is this for the Jets due to her being Doc's widow and having been a neighborhood fixture their entire lives. She's not comfortable with this, reminding Tony that marrying a white man doesn't make her not Puerto Rican.
- Brief Accent Imitation: When Tony imitates her Puerto Rican accent while repeating her words about Riff and the Jets, she puts on an exaggerated New York accent right back at him.
- Canon Foreigner: She was created for the 2021 film.
- Casting Gag: She's played by Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the 1961 film.
- Convenient Replacement Character: She essentially fills Doc's role in the 2021 film, since he's a Posthumous Character in this version of the story.
- Cool Old Lady: She's a quick witted woman who gives Tony genuinely good advice and helps him rebuild his life after serving time in jail.
- Deadpan Snarker: When Tony asks for help translating some of the things he wants to say to María in Spanish, she points out he might want to take it a bit slower to start off.Tony: What's forever? Like, "I want to be with you forever."
Valentina: You don't want to start maybe with, "I'd like to take you out to coffee?"
Tony: No, come on, tell me how to-
Valentina: "I want to take you to Chock Full O Nuts for a cream cheese sandwich on raisin bread?" - Get Out!: She tells Riff to leave her store at once because he's been stealing from her since he was six.
- Honest Advisor: Having been in a mixed race marriage, she understands the hostility Tony and María will have to endure and doesn't sugarcoat it to Tony.
- I Need a Freaking Drink: She pours herself a shot of rum after being told by the Sharks that Tony killed Bernardo.
- Intergenerational Friendship: Like Doc in the other versions, it's clear that she genuinely cares for Tony, giving him a place to live and a job as he tries to put his life back together.
- Maligned Mixed Marriage: Her marriage to Doc, a white American, while mostly happy did result in some hostility from both of their communities. It resulted in the Jets, who grew up in the neighborhood and knew her all their lives, considering her one of them even though she's still a Puerto Rican and no different from the ones they've been harassing. Meanwhile, many in the Puerto Rican community saw her as a Category Traitor for marrying a white man and Anita considers her one for associating with the Jets.
- Mama Bear: She's very protective of Tony, and tells Riff off for trying to get him involved with the Jets again. She also saves Anita when the Jets assault her.
- Parental Substitute: Neither of Tony's parents are mentioned in the 2021 film, while Valentina takes on a motherly role in helping him get his life back together.
- Precision F-Strike: This is what she says when she finds the Jets assaulting Anita."OH MY GOD!!! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING YOU DISGUSTING PIECES OF SHIT?!"
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: She calls out the Jets for attempting to rape Anita."I know you. I know all of your names. Since you was born, I watched you grow up. You have grown up into rapists. You dishonor yourselves. You dishonor your dead!"
The Jets and Associated Characters
The Jets in General
- Adaptation Dye-Job: Most of the Jets were blonde in the 1961 film, while in this version they have predominantly dark hair.
- Adaptational Jerkass: In the stage version and 1961 film, their fight is only with the Sharks and they're not shown partaking in any other crimes, apart from pinching an apple from a bodega. In the 2021 film, they are openly engaged in harassing the Puerto Rican community in general, including stealing from their shops and vandalizing their public spaces. The Jets are also openly transphobic, as they are dismissive of Anybodys and repeatedly misgender him.
- Ascended Extra: While the Jets are one of the main focuses of the musical, they mostly just appear as a full ensemble and get little characterization by themselves. Here they are split up on the day of the rumble, with half being questioned by the police, which leads into "Gee, Officer Krupke," and half accompany Riff as he buys a gun, which leads into "Cool."
- Color-Coded for Your Convenience: The Jets wear predominantly blue and grey clothes.
- Global Ignorance: Apart from Diesel, Snowboy, and Baby John, the Jets are unaware that Puerto Rico is legally part of the United States and thus the Sharks are also American citizens like them.
- Greaser Delinquents: They are styled as '50's delinquents in this film, as a number of the Jets (Diesel, Action and Numbers) wear leather jackets. In addition, their HQ prior to the rumble is a chop shop.
- Small Name, Big Ego: They're this in all versions, but it's especially apparent in this film as they continue to assert they own the neighborhood even though it's clear they'll be brushed aside once Lincoln Center is complete.Balkan: The Jets control [the neighborhood] and you know it!
Schrank: Uh huh, yeah. But golly gee, Balkan, not according to the New York City Committee for Slum Clearance, which has decided to pull this whole hellmouth down to the bedrock, and you're in the way. - Tattooed Crook: Riff and a few other Jets (a group of White Gangbangers) sport tattoos in this film.
Ice
Ice
Portrayed by: Kyle Coffman
"Welcome to the North Pole."
Second-in-command of the Jets.
- Adaptational Villainy: Unlike the 1961 film Ice is present and takes part in Anita's harassment and Attempted Rape. Specifically, he ( along with diesel ) throws Graziella, Velma, and Tessa outside and locks the door so that they can't help and Anita can't escape.
- Ambiguously Jewish: According to Tony Kushner and Kyle Coffman, Ice's real name is Isidor, which is a fairly common Jewish name.
- Chivalrous Pervert: Ice wolf-whistles after Graziella as she walks away.
- Decomposite Character: In the original stage version, Riff's second-in-command was named Diesel, but was renamed Ice for the 1961 film. In this version, they are separate characters.
- Due to the Dead: He serves as one of Tony's pallbearers, along with Diesel, Tiger, and Big Deal.
- Everyone Has Standards: He is unnerved when Riff suggests using knives during the rumble and is relieved when Bernardo declines.
- Heel Realization: Valentina's dressing down of the gang after their sexual assault on Anita makes him realize how low he and the others have sunk and his shame leads him to leave the scene.
- My God, What Have I Done?: After Valentina gives her "The Reason You Suck" Speech, Ice realizes that she's right and he tells the others they're done.
- Pet the Dog: Ice shows a few moments of emotional intelligence.
- He stops Tiger from getting involved with Riff and Tony's argument about the rumble, recognizing they need to hash things out themselves.
- Later at Doc's, he understands and respects Tony's wish to be left alone with Valentina and keeps everyone else away from the basement despite their protests.
- When María is grieving over Tony's body at the end, he goes to touch her shoulder as if to comfort her. When she screams at him not to touch her, he immediately backs off.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: The Blue to Action's Red. As Riff's lieutenants, Ice wants to make sure things don't get too dangerous for the Jets, while Action's primary concern is ensuring the Sharks don't get the jump on them at the rumble whatever the cost.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: After the Jets nearly rape Anita, Ice decides they're done and leaves, effectively disbanding the gang.
Diesel
Diesel
Portrayed by: Kevin Csolak
A senior member of the Jets.
- All There in the Manual: According to Tony Kushner and Kevin Csolak, Diesel's nickname comes from his love of cars. At one point, he was nearly killed while trying to steal one, but was saved by Riff and Ice, and ended up joining the Jets to repay them.
- Big Brother Instinct: Diesel is the one who takes on the big brother role towards Baby John and helps the latter deal with his fears of going to jail.
- At Doc's drugstore after Riff's death, when the Jets are beginning to assault Anita, Baby John can be seen running up to Diesel and sticking by him instead of joining in, showing how he trusts him.
- Decomposite Character: In the original stage version, Riff's second-in-command was named Diesel, but was renamed Ice for the 1961 film. In this version, they are separate characters.
- Due to the Dead: He serves as one of Tony's pallbearers, along with Ice, Tiger, and Big Deal.
- Establishing Character Moment: In the prologue, the Jets perform some elegant waltzes down the street. Diesel joins in and ends his bit by raising his fists in a fighting stance, showing that he's tough but also graceful, hinting at his Genius Bruiser status.
- Everyone Has Standards:
- He hates the Sharks and Puerto Ricans just as much as the other Jets, but he's willing to acknowledge that they are also American citizens and chides A-Rab for his ignorance.
- While he still misgenders Anybodys, Diesel at least tells A-Rab to leave him alone.
- Genius Bruiser: Diesel is one of the gang's biggest and toughest members, but he's far from Dumb Muscle. He's aware that Puerto Rico is legally part of the United States, making the Sharks American citizens too. Later, when the gang is being questioned about the rumble, he knows that the police don't actually have anything on the Jets that could result in them being sent to jail.
- Undying Loyalty: Diesel is one of the gang's most loyal members and doesn't engage in their Vitriolic Best Buds behavior. When the gang is forced to leave Riff's body at the salt shed, he feels an immense amount of guilt about it.
- Oral Fixation: He is almost always seen with a toothpick in his mouth, unless he's singing, where he will take it out and put it back when he's done. The one time he doesn't have one, in Doc's after Riff and Bernardo's deaths, he can be seen biting his fingernails.
Action
Action
Portrayed by: Sean Harrison Jones
"They can't make us up and leave! We're here, ain't we?"
Another senior member of the Jets.
- Adaptational Nice Guy: Downplayed. While he's definitely not a Nice Guy, he doesn't instigate any fights with the Sharks or the Jets' attempt to rape Anita (instead it's Numbers and Balkan who do that) as he does in the stage musical or 1961 film. He also doesn’t have much beef with Tony as he did in the musical and 1961 film and even attempts to get him to safety when everyone fights at the rumble .
- Ascended Extra: Otherwise a minor Jet in the 1961 film (though he did take over as the new Jets leader after the rumble in the stage show), here he's one of Riff's lieutenants, along with Ice, as they agree the terms of the rumble with Bernardo.
- Comically Missing the Point: When he accompanies Riff to buy a gun for the rumble and Riff claims to have fired a Colt pistol in the past, Abe asks Riff what the pistol fired (as in caliber). Action tries to help by answering "bullets".
- Hot-Blooded: Tightly wound and quick to fight.
- Properly Paranoid: After Riff and Bernardo agree to no knives at the rumble, Action expresses his doubts the Sharks won't bring any (albeit due to him believing racist stereotypes about Puerto Ricans). He turns out to be right when Bernardo whips out a switchblade from his pocket after a knife is spotted on the salt shed's ground.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: The Red to Ice's Blue. As Riff's lieutenants, Action's primary concern is ensuring the Sharks don't get the jump on them at the rumble whatever the cost, while Ice wants to make sure things don't get too dangerous for the Jets.
- The Worf Effect: He's one of the Jets' most senior members, but gets knocked to the ground rather easily by Abe to demonstrate how inexperienced the group actually is.
- You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!: His reaction when Tony shows up at the rumble and tries to make peace with Bernardo instead of fighting.
A-Rab
A-Rab
Portrayed by: Jess LeProtto
"American citizens, which them spics ain't! Them they can chase off, not us!"
A hot-tempered member of the Jets.
- Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: To Baby John, as he is no longer his best friend, but also to the Jets in general, as he is a more senior member, being introduced along with Ice, Action, and Diesel in the prologue.
- Adaptational Jerkass: In the 2021 film, he's much more of a jerk to Baby John, as he is unsympathetic to the kid's fears about going to jail and tells him to just get over it. He's also openly transphobic to Anybodys, and even mentions to have pantsed him at one point.
- All There in the Manual: According to Tony Kushner and Jess LeProtto, A-Rab's real name is Gabriel and he has a Sicilian background.
- Global Ignorance: He's unaware that Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States and that it means the Sharks are American citizens too.
- Jerkass Has a Point: He, along with Balkan, tries to convince Riff that Tony is done with the Jets, as he hasn't even hung out with them in the five months since he got out of prison.
- Meaningful Background Event: During the opening of "Tonight (Quintet)", as the camera focuses on Riff, A-Rab can be seen in the background taking a pipe and banging it against the wrecked hood of a cab, providing the percussion of the song for that scene.
- The Napoleon: He's one of the shorter members of the Jets, and also one of the most hot-tempered.
- Pet the Dog: Despite being an unrepentant jerk for the rest of the film, he can be seen trying to console an injured Baby John after the opening scuffle.
- Politically Incorrect Villain:
- He says a number of transphobic slurs to Anybodys.Baby John: I can't go to jail, Deez!
A-Rab: Dry up, weepy, or else go sit on the ladies' bench with the other dickless wonder.
Diesel: Leave her be.
Anybodys: Get stuffed, why doncha?
A-Rab: Go back to the zoo, why doncha?
Anybodys: Go suck on your sister's titty, why doncha, ya guinea hyena. - Later, when Anita asks to see Valentina, A-Rab's comment "She's too dark to pass" is what signals the beginning of their sexual harassment against her, as this is when Graziella realizes what they're going to do and tells them to stop.
- He says a number of transphobic slurs to Anybodys.
- Rambunctious Italian: Tony Kushner's script describes A-Rab as Italian, and he is loud, rude, and angry.
- Skewed Priorities: He's more concerned about the fact the cops consider Anybodys an associate of the Jets than that they know about the rumble and are actively investigating it.
Baby John
Baby John
Portrayed by: Patrick Higgins
The youngest and newest member of the Jets.
- Ambiguous Situation: After Ice tells the Jets they're "done" and leaves Doc's, Baby John leaves soon after him, but isn't present when María gave her dressing down. This leaves it ambiguous as to whether he used the opportunity to leave the gang for good and go home or he decided to lay low somewhere else and won't necessarily change his ways.
- Butt-Monkey: As The Baby of the Bunch he's treated a lot like a kid brother. He's subjected to a lot of physical comedy by the other Jets during "Gee, Officer Krupke."
- Corrupt the Cutie: His arc: his naïve persona is thrown aside during the "Gee, Officer Krupke" number and he more or less becomes a petty thug like the rest of the Jets by the Rumble, where he directly contributes to Riff's death, and during María's ending speech, he is one of the many Jets absent, leaving the possibility he will not necessarily give up a life of crime and bigotry.
- Ear Ache: At the end of the opening brawl, he has a nail sticking out of his ear.
- Establishing Character Moment: His naivety is established early on when, as the Jets enter San Juan Hill, he stays in place, clearly nervous about going any further.
- Momma's Boy: Implied to be one, as he's freaking out at the idea of going to jail and says it will "kill his ma."
- Morality Pet: Serves as one to a few of the senior Jets, as he's on the receiving end of many of their Pet the Dog moments. Riff decides to walk with him into San Juan Hill upon seeing how nervous the kid is, Ice pulls him away from the opening scuffle in an effort to protect him from the danger, and Diesel advises and comforts him when the group is taken to the police precinct for questioning.
- Naïve Newcomer: He appears to be a relatively new member of the Jets, as he's hesitant to enter the Puerto Rican neighborhood and is extremely nervous when the police start questioning them about the rumble.
- Oh, Crap!: He has one when he gets cornered by the Sharks, especially when he finds himself facing Manolo having whacked his head with a paint can just moments earlier.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom:
- He unknowingly contributes to Riff's decision to start the Rumble, by hitting one of the Sharks in the head with a paint can, leading to him getting a nail driven through his ear and Riff deciding the time is right for a real fight.
- He also directly contributes to Riff and Bernardo's deaths when he threw Riff the switchblade.
Mouthpiece
Mouthpiece
Portrayed by: Ben Cook
"Oh lookit yiz, ya feckless friggin' disappointments. Now gimme one good reason I shouldn't throw the book atcha!"
An egotistical member of the Jets.
- Ascended Extra: In this version, he's the one who pretends to be Krupke in "Gee, Officer Krupke."
- Mathematician's Answer: When he and other members of the Jets are interrogated by the police about the rumble happening that night.Mouthpiece: Nah, they don't tell me nothin'. They know I can't keep secrets.Detective: They tell you when to show up, right?Mouthpiece: No, they don't, I just hang around until somebody says let's go.Detective: And then?Mouthpiece: I go.
- Miles Gloriosus: Described in Tony Kushner's script as "a noisy showoff."
- Signature Headgear: Mouthpiece is the only Jet who's always sporting a hat, a dark blue checked cap. During "Gee, Officer Krupke", he replaces it with Krupke's police uniform cap.
- Hats Off to the Dead: After the Rumble, when all of the Jets are gathered at Doc's, he's shown with his hat off in mourning.
- My God, What Have I Done?: After the Jets cruelly attack Anita and Valentina rightfully ripped into them for it, Mouthpiece is shown with a tear rolling down his cheek, due to his guilt and shame over taking part in the incident.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: His real name isn't revealed in the stage version or either film adaptation.
- Pet the Dog: While he and the other Jets trash the precinct during "Gee, Officer Krupke", he at least has the decency to give Krupke his hat back before fleeing.
Big Deal
Big Deal
Portrayed by: John Michael Fiumara
"Eek! Officer Krupke, you've done it again!"
A dependable member of the Jets.
- Abled in the Adaptation: He doesn't have glasses in the 2021 film, while he does in the musical.
- Due to the Dead: He serves as one of Tony's pallbearers, along with Ice, Diesel, and Tiger.
- The Generic Guy: Described in Tony Kushner's screenplay for the 2021 film as "a little dull, but dependable."
- High-School Hustler: Introduced making a back-alley deal with a shady character in the prologue.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: His real name isn't revealed in the stage version or either film adaptation.
Tiger
Tiger
Portrayed by: Julian Elia
"Pow!"
An ambitious young Jet.
- Ascended Extra: He gets more focus in the 2021 film as well, as he is with Riff when they buy the gun and then partakes in "Cool" with Ice, Action, and Numbers in addition to Tony and Riff.
- Comically Missing the Point: When Tony tells Riff to call off the rumble, Tiger asks why they should call it off when they have a gun.
- Due to the Dead: He serves as one of Tony's pallbearers, along with Ice, Diesel, and Big Deal.
- Hot-Blooded: Described in Tony Kushner's script as "a fighter, eager to rise in the ranks."
- Only Known by Their Nickname: His real name isn't revealed in the stage version or either film adaptation.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: He calls Anybodys a "lesbo" when he attempts to dance with a girl.
Balkan
Balkan
Portrayed by: Kyle Allen
"Ew, Diesel, you got a social disease?"
Another member of the Jets.
- Blatant Lies: He's grilled by one of the detectives about the location of the rumble."I don't know where the rumble is! I don't even know what a rumble is!"
- Canon Foreigner: He's a new Jet character in the 2021 film.
- Character Tic: He's constantly shown to be flipping a washer like a coin.
- Funny Background Event: As "Gee, Officer Krupke" begins, Balkan can be seen in the background having no interest in partaking and instead reading his newspaper.
- Jerkass Has a Point: When Riff tells the Jets he's going to get Tony to help with setting up the rumble, Balkan rightfully tells Riff that Tony is done with the gang and Riff needs to stop thinking Tony's going to come back and accept it. By the middle of the film, Riff reluctantly does.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: His real name isn't revealed in the during the film.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: He and Numbers are the first to sexually harass Anita, resulting in Anita deliberately mixing up the message leading to Tony's death.
Snowboy
Snowboy
Portrayed by: Myles Erlick
"The lieutenant's right. What're the Jets if we got no territory?"
Another member of the Jets.
- Cloud Cuckoolander: Described in Tony Kushner's script as "spacey."
- Hot-Blooded: It's quite apparent that he's one of the more devoted and intensely criminal Jets.
- Lack of Empathy: Even after partaking in the attempted rape of Anita, Snowboy has the gall to tell her to "go back where she came from."
- Psychotic Manchild: One of the more gleefully vicious Jets in the film.
Numbers
Numbers
Portrayed by: Harrison Coll
"Crazy!"
A footsoldier in the Jets.
- The Brute: Described as a veteran footsoldier in Tony Kushner's script.
- Canon Foreigner: Created for the 2021 film.
- Flat Character: He gets little characterization in the film.
- The Generic Guy: He's a background Jet.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: He and Balkan are the first to sexually harass Anita,resulting in Anita deliberately mixing up the message resulting in Tony's death.
Little Moly
Little Moly
Portrayed by: Daniel Patrick Russell
One of the youngest members of the Jets.
- The Baby of the Bunch: Downplayed. The script mentions that he's the same age as Baby John, but he's described as more hardened.
- Canon Foreigner: He's a new Jet character added for the 2021 film.
- Foil: Seems to have entirely been created as one for Baby John. Both of them are the same age and the youngest members of the gang. However, Baby John is a relatively innocent Naïve Newcomer while Little Moly is more rough and hardened by street life.
- Pet the Dog: After Lt. Schrank pulls the nail out of Baby John's ear, Little Moly can be seen taking a look at the wound and comforting him.
- The Voiceless: Along with Skink, he doesn't get any audible lines in the film. They appear in "Jet Song" and "Tonight (Quintet)," but don't partake in "Gee, Officer Krupke" or "Cool," both of which give a lot of focus to the rest of the Jets.
Skink
Skink
Portrayed by: Garett Hawe
Another member of the Jets.
- Canon Foreigner: Created for the 2021 film.
- The Voiceless: Does not get any audible spoken lines in the film, and does not partake in "Cool" or "Gee, Officer Krupke," which add some characterization to the ensemble Jets.
Anybodys
Anybodys
Portrayed by: iris menas
"I oughta be a Jet! Tony told me I could take on any four a you!"
A transgender young mannote who aspires to join the Jets.
- Adaptational Gender Identity: A cisgender girl in the source material, a trans boy here.
- Adaptational Nice Guy: In the 2021 film, Anybodys doesn't take part in the Jets' harassment of Anita. In fact, when Anita is about to enter Doc's, Anybodys walks past her and gives her a sincere warning not to go inside for her own safety.
- Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: While Tony is generally nicer to Anybodys than the rest of the Jets in the stage version and 1961 film, the 2021 film makes it clear that they are genuinely friends, as they warmly hug each other at the dance and Tony is the only one who treats him with a degree of respect. It's also mentioned that Tony was in favor of Anybodys joining the Jets prior to getting sent to prison, whereas previously he didn't think a girl should get mixed up in a gang.
- Ascended Extra: He has a much greater presence in this film adaptation. He first appears wanting to join the Jets as they vandalize a Puerto Rican flag mural, and whistles a warning as the Sharks arrive. Anybodys gets a lot of focus at the dance, rather than just being in the background, and is present in the police station when the Jets are questioned about the rumble.
- Dude, Where's My Respect?: Riff tells him to beat it when the Jets start to vandalize a Puerto Rican flag mural. However, Anybodys stays behind and whistles a warning to them when the Sharks arrive, ensuring they don't completely get the drop on the Jets. Even then, they continue to push Anybodys aside during "Jet Song."
- Due to the Dead: He (alongside Braulio ) leads Tony's funeral procession at the end of the film.
- Fisticuff-Provoking Comment: A-Rab starts an argument with him that gets them both on their feet angrily talking over each other, and when A-Rab insists "I pantsed her once, and under oath, she's a GIRL!", Anybodys tackles him to the ground.
- Oh, Crap!: He sneaks into the gym where Bernardo trained, and sees that Chino has Riff's gun, while telling the Sharks not to follow him as he leaves to find Tony.
- Politically Incorrect Hero: In response to A-Rab's constant transphobia, Anybodys frequently insults his Italian background with various ethnic slurs.
- Trans Tribulations: He's a trans boy whose gender identity is dismissed and made fun of by the other Jets.
- Undying Loyalty: He is fiercely loyal to Tony, as Tony is the only person who treats Anybodys with any degree of respect. It's mentioned in passing that, before Tony was sent to prison, he was in favor of Anybodys joining the Jets. When Tony runs onto the street in despair and calls for Chino to kill him too, Anybodys desperately tries to convince Tony to hide with him. After Tony is killed, Anybodys leads the funeral procession.
Graziella
Graziella
Portrayed by: Paloma Garcia-Lee
"I wanna dance, goddammit!"
Tony's ex-girlfriend and Riff's current girlfriend.
- Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder: She used to date Tony before he went to prison. The script mentions that she still has a thing for him when she first sees Tony at the dance, something Riff is oblivious to.
- Adaptation Dye-Job: She's a redhead in the 1961 film and blonde in the 2021 film.
- Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: Graziella being an ex of Tony's is unique to this film. After the rumble and Riff's death, she says she wants to see Tony because he cared about her once before.
- Adaptational Heroism: She and the other Jet girls try to save Anita when the Jets begin to sexually assault her.
- Ascended Extra: Graziella has more prominence in the 2021 film. She appears in the opening with Riff, having apparently made out with him in the cab of a wrecking crane, and it's also established that she was originally Tony's girlfriend before he went to prison. She also attempts to stop the Jets from assaulting Anita.
- Berserk Button: Anita calls for Valentina in Spanish, and Graziella lashes out at her for it.
- Everyone Has Standards: She's just as bigoted as the Jets and hates Anita because she was Bernardo's girlfriend. However, when the Jets' harassment of her turns sexual, Graziella and the other girls desperately attempt to put a stop to it.
- Forced to Watch: She's thrown out of Doc's when the Jets begin to assault Anita, and pleads through the door for them to stop.
- Loose Lips: She berates Riff since he told her he wasn't going to fight until he challenged Bernardo to the rumble. Officer Krupke overhears the word "challenge," leading the police to start to investigate the gangs' plans.
- Tragic Keepsake: She's wearing one of Riff's shirts after his death, which is likely the only thing she has left of him.
Velma
Portrayed by: Maddie Ziegler
Mouthpiece's girlfriend.
- Adaptation Dye-Job: She's blonde in the 1961 film, and in most stage productions, but brunette in the 2021 film.
- Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: Velma is usually portrayed as the girlfriend of Ice or Riff, but she's Mouthpiece's girlfriend here.
- Adaptational Heroism: She and the other Jet girls try to save Anita when the Jets begin to sexually assault her.
- Everyone Has Standards: She's horrified when the Jets' harassment of Anita turns sexual and tries to stop it.
Tessa
Portrayed by: Talia Ryder
Baby John's girlfriend.
- Adaptational Heroism: She and the other Jet girls try to save Anita when the Jets begin to sexually assault her.
- Adaptational Name Change: Baby John's girlfriend is usually named Minnie, but named Tessa here.
- Everyone Has Standards: She's horrified when the Jets' harassment of Anita turns sexual and tries to stop it.
The Sharks and Associated Characters
The Sharks in General
A New York City street gang comprised of Puerto Rican immigrants.
- Adaptational Heroism: They come across in a much better light in this film, as they're fighting to protect their community from the Jets' bigoted attacks and aren't shown going out of their way to provoke them like in the musical and 1961 film. In addition, they don't help Chino hunt down Tony, and actually try to talk him out of revenge.
- Adaptational Name Change: Most of the Sharks are given different names in the 2021 film.
- Adaptational Self-Defense: As mentioned above, in this version, they are clearly trying to protect their neighbors and shops from the Jets' constant harassment.
- Ascended Extra: The Sharks more or less disappear from the stage version and 1961 film after the rumble, up until Chino kills Tony and María scolds both gangs for the senseless violence. In the 2021 film, the senior members of the Sharks are given much more prominence in the final act, including telling Valentina about the rumble, holding a prayer vigil for Bernardo, and trying to talk Chino out of killing Tony.
- Color-Coded for Your Convenience: The Sharks wear predominantly red and yellow clothes.
- Fatal Flaw: Pride, which Chino even calls them out on. Part of the Sharks' desire to defend their neighborhood is to prove to the Jets how strong and tough the Puerto Ricans are and that they can't be pushed around. If they didn't let the Jets get under their skin and agree to the rumble, Bernardo would've have never gotten killed.
- Patriotic Fervor: The Sharks are even more devoted to their homeland in this version, singing the Puerto Rican anthem La Borinqueña and one of them wears a Puerto Rican flag to the rumble.
- Vigilante Militia: Here, the Sharks were formed in response to the Jets vandalizing their public spaces, stealing from their shops, and harassing their community. Officer Krupke chides them for trying to take the law into their own hands instead of calling the cops like good citizens, though Bernardo points out that the cops are more likely to arrest them.
- Working-Class Hero: In this version, the Sharks are blue-collar workers who try to defend their shops from the Jets, and are cheered by their community for their valiant efforts.
- Your Terrorists Are Our Freedom Fighters: Deconstructed. To the authorities, the Sharks are just the latest in a long line of ethnic youth street gangs they have to deal with. To the Puerto Rican community, they're noble young men who defend them from the bigoted Jets. However, the latter idealized view of the group proves to be a bad thing, as Chino wants to join their ranks and refuses to listen to Bernardo and the others when they explain the downsides of it and why he's better off sticking to school. After Bernardo's death, Quique is forced to accept and agree with Chino that, in the grand scheme of things, the Jets were only a minor nuisance and the fighting did nothing to actually uplift the Puerto Rican community in America.Quique: Eso es verdad.note It’s a big world. Bernardo let the gringos tell him there’s only this barrio, these twenty bad blocks.
Braulio
Braulio
Portrayed by: Sebastian Serra
"María, ya es tiempo. Vente con nosotros."note
Second-in-command of the Sharks.
- Adaptational Name Change: He's named Pepe in the stage version and the 1961 film, and Braulio in the 2021 film.
- Bearer of Bad News: He tells Valentina about the rumble and that Tony killed Bernardo.
- Due to the Dead: He ( along with anybody’s ) leads the procession for Tony’s funeral .
- Kick the Dog: During the Prologue, he knocks down Anybodys, who wasn't vandalizing the mural, after he signals to the Jets the Sharks are coming.
- The Lancer: Along with Quique, he's quick to lead the Sharks into battle when the Jets begin to vandalize a Puerto Rican flag mural.
- Mirror Character: Like Ice, he is an intelligent young man who serves as second-in-command.
- My God, What Have I Done?: When the Sharks regroup outside Doc's, he is shocked and horrified by what transpired."¡Yo no quería que esto pasara, yo no quería que esto pasara!"note
- The Smart Guy: Tony Kushner's script describes Braulio as serious and political. He tries to tell Schrank that they are citizens and have rights, only to get slapped in response.
- Would Hit a Girl: In the Prologue, he knocks over Anybodys (who's actually a transman, but still considered a girl in 1950's America) and later tries to attack Graziella when she "accidentally" kicks him while dancing during the "Mambo" section of the dance.
Quique
Quique
Portrayed by: Julius Anthony Rubio
A senior member of the Sharks.
- Canon Foreigner: He's a new Shark character added for the 2021 film.
- Due to the Dead: He is one of the Sharks who serves as Tony's pallbearers, along with Chago and Chucho.
- Everyone Has Standards: When Chino reveals that he has Riff's gun, Quique tries to convince him that it's not worth throwing away his entire life for revenge over a single neighborhood. Chino doesn't listen.
- Heel Realization: After Bernardo's death, he realizes it was foolish of them and Bernardo to let the Jets get under their skin and agree to the rumble. It's part of why he tries to convince Chino to drop his revenge plan.
- Know When to Fold Them: Initially, he wants to fight the Jets as much as anyone. But when the group is hiding out after Bernardo's death, he realizes the gang war wasn't worth their friend's life and he has no desire to retaliate. When he sees that Chino has Riff's gun, he desperately tries to reason with him, telling him it's not worth throwing away his future for revenge.
- The Lancer: He leads the Sharks into battle during the prologue, along with Braulio.
- Mirror Character: He serves as one to Diesel, due to both of them being one of the biggest members of their gangs and trying to advise their friends when they're in a stressful situation.
- Younger Than They Look: Quique is a teenager like the rest of the Sharks, but looks significantly older than the others thanks to his mustache.
Chago
Chago
Portrayed by: Ricardo A. Zayas
Another member of the Sharks.
- Canon Foreigner: He's a new Shark character added for the 2021 film.
- Due to the Dead: He is one of the Sharks who serves as Tony's pallbearers, along with Chucho and Quique.
- Hot-Blooded: He hates the Jets for stealing from the Puerto Rican shops and vandalizing their public spaces, and thus is quick to want to fight. He also lunges at Chino for saying that Bernardo was a fool.
- Jerkass: During the Prologue when the Sharks go after the Jets for vandalizing their mural, he leads a small group in ganging up on Baby John, the youngest and weakest of the Jets. They even go as far as shoving a nail through his ear.
- Mirror Character: His Hot-Blooded nature and eagerness to fight basically makes him the Sharks' version of Action.
- Oh, Crap!: All of his bravado instantly vanishes when Chino pulls out Riff's gun.
- Patriotic Fervor: When Bernardo leads the Sharks in singing "La Borinqueña," Puerto Rico's national anthem, Chago raises his fist and screams "¡Viva Puerto Rico libre!", or "Long live free Puerto Rico!"
- Pet the Dog: After being the most belligerent of the Sharks throughout the film, he's the first one of them to step in and assist the Jets with carrying Tony's body.
- Slasher Smile: He has a wide, psychotic grin on his face as his group corners Baby John.
Flaco
Aníbal
Aníbal
Portrayed by: David Avilés Morales
Another member of the Sharks.
- Guile Hero: Outsmarts the Jets chasing him in the prologue by unlocking the flatbed of the truck he's hitching a ride on, releasing watermelons that trip them up.
- Hypocrite: The Sharks cite the Jets stealing from their neighbors' stores as one of their justifications for fighting them. This is after Aníbal is shown hijacking melons from a local produce truck to use as weapons against A-Rab, Big Deal, and Diesel as they chase after him.
- Patriotic Fervor: He wears a Puerto Rican flag as a cape to the rumble.
Other Characters
Glad Hand
Murray "Glad Hand" Benowitz
Portrayed by: Mike Iveson
"Be nice to each other, give us some hope, just for a little bit. Then you can revert back to your true feral selves."
The social worker who organizes the dance between the Jets and the Sharks.
- Adaptational Intelligence: Unlike in the 1961 film and stage show, he comes across as less naive and more frustrated by the constant conflict between the gangs.
- Politically Incorrect Hero: He tells the Sharks to "speak English at school-sponsored functions." Though in his defense, it was clear that the Sharks had just insulted him. At the very least, he does later remind the characters that the Puerto Ricans are American citizens too.
Abe & Rory
Abe & Rory
Portrayed by: Curtiss Cook (Abe) & Jamie Harris (Rory)
An African-American black market dealer and an Irish bartender, respectively, who associate with the Jets.
- Always Someone Better: Their dealing with the Jets shows how the gang is really just a bunch of inexperienced juvenile delinquents compared to the real, hardened career criminals like themselves.
- Arms Dealer: Abe is a black market gun smuggler.
- Blatant Lies: Abe asks Riff if he's ever fired a gun before. Riff replies that it was a Colt revolver, with .32 rounds. Abe takes this as a sign that he's lying by saying that Colts fire .22 rounds.
- Canon Foreigner: Both were created for the 2021 film.
- Gun Porn: Abe and Rory lovingly describe the S&W revolver that the Jets want to buy.
- The Irish Mob: Rory is implied to have been involved with it in the past, along with Riff's father.
- Scary Black Man: Abe is a streetwise gun dealer, and he's able to easily intimidate the Jets when Rory pulls the gun on Riff.
- Small Role, Big Impact: They only appear in one scene in which they sell a Smith & Wesson Model 10 to Riff. That gun ends up killing Tony at the end of the night.
- Street Smart: Abe is smart enough to namedrop Mutually Assured Destruction (a term that wasn't even coined until 1962) when Riff explains that they need a gun because the Sharks are bringing a gun while they think the Jets are.
Fausta
Señora Fausta
Portrayed by: Andréa Burns
María's boss at Gimbels.
- Adaptational Name Change: María's boss in the 1961 film is named Madam Lucia.
- Ascended Extra: María's boss at the bridal shop is briefly seen in the 1961 film, after "I Feel Pretty." In the 2021 film, she participates in "I Feel Pretty."
- Canon Foreigner: She was created for this film.
- Ethnic Menial Labor: She's a Hispanic cleaning supervisor at an upscale department store.
- Not So Above It All: She tries to get María and the other cleaning ladies to stop singing "I Feel Pretty," but soon gets swept up in it. At the end of the song, she bluntly tells everyone to get back to work.
- Remake Cameo: Andréa Burns played Maria in the 1992-1993 European tour of the musical before reprising in this film adaptation.
Doc
Doc
The deceased husband of Valentina.
- Death by Adaptation: An unusual case. He's reportedly died before the events of this film, but his role is still present in the form of Valentina, who's his widow and takes over his part.
- Posthumous Character: He's been written out of the 2021 film by way of death, and his role is filled in it by new character Valentina (his widow in this version) to allow for the Casting Gag of Rita Moreno to be a fleshed out and fitting role.
