Actors Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal will be making a comeback to Broadway!
On Wednesday, producer Brian Anthony Moreland revealed that two-time Oscar winner Washington and Oscar nominee Gyllenhaal are set to co-star in the Broadway production of William Shakespeare’s “Othello.” Washington will depict Othello, a general whose descent into madness is triggered by jealousy, while Gyllenhaal will embody Iago, the antagonist who manipulates Othello into doubting his wife Desdemona’s fidelity. The casting for the role of Desdemona is still pending.
As per the New York Times, the most recent Broadway staging of Othello occurred in 1982, featuring James Earl Jones in the role of Othello and the late Christopher Plummer as Iago. Washington garnered his 10th Oscar nomination for his portrayal in the 2021 film adaptation of The Tragedy of Macbeth. Additionally, he starred in the 1993 cinematic rendition of Much Ado About Nothing. Throughout his career, Washington has also graced the stage with performances in Julius Caesar, Coriolanus, and Richard III.
Gyllenhaal showcased his talent in several notable stage productions, including the 2019 rendition of Sea Wall/A Life, the 2017 staging of Sunday in the Park With George, and Constellations in 2015. His involvement in Sea Wall/A Life earned him Tony nominations both as a producer and an actor. Additionally, he received recognition as one of the producers of Jeremy O. Harris’ Slave Play.
In a 2022 interview, Washington stated, “Shakespeare, that’s the only challenge left for me. It’s the ultimate challenge.”
He added, “I’m more interested in Shakespeare than anything else as an actor, at this point in my life or in my career. You have to come up to the standard of Shakespeare. I don’t care who you are, if you can’t deliver, you will get exposed. And I love that. No pain, no gain.”
