Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal to Star in Shakespeare'sOthelloon Broadway

Denzel Washington; Jake Gyllenhaal.Photo:Momodu Mansaray/WireImage; Unique Nicole/WireImage

Momodu Mansaray/WireImage; Unique Nicole/WireImage

Denzel WashingtonandJake Gyllenhaalare brushing up on their Shakespeare together.

On Wednesday, producer Brian Anthony Moreland announced that two-time Oscar-winner Washington, 69, and Oscar nominee Gyllenhaal, 43, will star opposite each other onBroadwayin William Shakespeare’sOthello. Washington will play the titular character, while Gyllenhaal will be Iago.

Tony Award winner Kenny Leon is directing the show, which will open in spring 2025 at a Shubert Theatre to be announced.

Gyllenhaalwroteon Instagram, “Can’t wait.”

Washington earned his 10th Oscar nomination for a Shakespeare turn onscreen in the 2021 filmThe Tragedy of Macbeth. He also starred in the 1993 movie adaptation ofMuch Ado About Nothing.Onstage over the years, he’s also performedJulius Caesar,CoriolanusandRichard III.

Washingtontold IndieWirein 2022, “Shakespeare, that’s the only challenge left for me. It’s the ultimate challenge.”

“I’m more interested in Shakespeare than anything else as an actor, at this point in my life or in my career,” theEqualizeractor added. “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.”

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The star toldABC7’s On the Red Carpetthat same year that Shakespeare is “the gift that keeps on giving.”

“You have to unlock it. You have to meet Shakespeare where he is,” said Washington. “You can’t bring Shakespeare down to your level — you have to come up to this level. It’s a standard that your ordinary chops ain’t enough to get you over.”

source: people.com