Several film stars have finally transitioned from their Hollywood career to making a Broadway debut as a playwright and actor for this season.
The latest surprise for theatergoers dropped earlier this week when Oscar winners George Clooney and Robert Downey announced their Broadway debut.
Two-time Academy Award winner and heartthrob George Clooney will make his Broadway debut next spring in a stage adaptation of 'Good Night, and Good Luck.'
'Good Night, and Good Luck' is a historical drama set in broadcast journalism during the height of Red-Scare politics.
Clooney, who co-wrote and directed the 2005 film 'Fred Friendly,' will now play the lead role of Edward R. Murrow. He will co-write the stage play with Heslov again, but Tony Award winner David Cromer will direct this time.
'Oppenheimer' actor Robert Downey also revealed his Broadway plans. Downey, who starred with Clooney as CBS News correspondent Joseph Wershba in 2005, will have his Broadway debut in the upcoming Ayad Akhtar play 'McNeal.'
'McNeal' will be presented at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater in the fall.
A Clooney-Downey run-off is possible. However, there is also the possibility of a third Oscar winner, Denzel Washington, who will lead in director Kenny Leon's revival of 'Othello,' winning for Lead Actor in a Play.
Washington's Academy Award-nominated Iago, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Peter Gallagher, who is returning to Broadway in Delia Ephron's adaptation of her memoir, 'Left on Tenth,' and newcomer Kit Connor, who will bring his 'Heartstopper' fandom to Broadway in Sam Gold's 'Romeo + Juliet' this fall, could also be contenders for that category.
A fair share of Hollywood names graced the stage this past Broadway season, from the local Groff and his long-running 'Harry Potter' costar Daniel Radcliffe to Academy Award nominee Rachel McAdams, who made a daring Broadway debut in Amy Herzog's confronting drama 'Mary Jane.'
