West Side Story: Why [SPOILER] Has To Die At The End

screenrant.com:

Based on the Shakespearean tragedy Romeo and Juliet, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story deviates from the play’s original ending: rather than the two star-crossed lovers dying in an act of double-suicide, only Tony (Ansel Elgort) dies at the end of the film. From the addition of Rita Moreno’s new character Valentina to Anybodys' trans identity, director Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner made some notable improvements to the classic ‘60s musical in their West Side Story remake. Among the various changes is the addition of a backstory for Tony that not only explains his separation from the Jets, but subtly hints why Tony’s tragic death was necessary for the story.

The Montagues and Capulets, the two warring families from Romeo and Juliet, are changed in West Side Story to the Jets and Sharks, two rival gangs who are vying for territory on the streets of Manhattan. While attending a dance, Tony, a former member of the Jets, and Maria (Rachel Zegler), the sister of Sharks leader Bernardo, fall in love in spite of the turf war being waged by their communities. Before Tony and Maria are able to run away together, Tony hears a false report that Chino killed Maria. Deciding death would be preferable to living without her, Tony goes searching for Chino and only learns Maria is still alive moments before Chino kills him. While the original West Side Story has the same ending, the remake suggests that Tony was fated to die.

Related: Does The Cast Really Sing In West Side Story?

Unlike Richard Beymer's Tony, Tony never truly escapes his past as a Jet in the remake. When Riff invites Tony to the dance in the original film, Tony acts as if he’s outgrown the gang, suggests the Jets simply “play games” like children, and that he