Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga heading to Broadway in 2022

Danial Craig and Ruth Negga are heading to Broadway next spring in a production of the Shakespearean classic, “Macbeth”.

Coming off of the heels of the starring role of the latest James Bond film, No Time to Die, Daniel Craig already has other projects coming up. After the anticipated sequel to Knives Out  is filmed, Craig is set to make his return to Broadway in the spring in another starring role, this time as Macbeth, the famed Shakespeare character.

He will co-star with Ruth Negga, of Preacher and Loving fame, who will take on the role of Lady Macbeth.

The play is set to begin performances on March 29th, 2022 at the Lyceum Theater on Broadway, which has hosted shows since 1903. The official opening will happen about a month later on April 28th, 2022.

The play is produced by Barbara Broccoli, who is also the producer of the James Bond films, so is very familiar with Craig’s talent. In a quote from Deadline, Broccoli stated that she is, “…thrilled that he will be supporting the return of Broadway playing this iconic role with the exquisitely talented Ruth Negga making her Broadway debut and under the expert direction of Sam Gold.”

Sam Gold is a Tony-nominated and winning director, having been nominated for A Doll’s Houe, Part 2 in 2017, and winning for Fun House in 2015.

He stated that he is, “…beyond thrilled to be participating in this historic season as theatre re-emerges, and to be working with two such masterful actors on one of dramatic literature’s most challenging and epic dramas.”

After Broadway went dark in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many wondered how theater would return when the lights were switched back on. A year and a half later, Broadway reopened in September 2021.

Similar to the increase in big budget films, movies from high profile directors, and franchise flicks returning to theaters, a production like Macbeth opening on Broadway shows an increase in confidence to a full recovery after such a long and devastating pause to the entertainment industry.

Craig has been involved in both worlds of live theater and the big screen. He’s adding star power to the return of movies with the premiere of No Time to Die and will do the same for Broadway with his starring Macbeth role.

He’s no stranger to live productions,  having performed on London’s stages since the 1990s. Productions in London include, “Hurlyburly with the Peter Hall Company at The Old Vic, Angels in America at The National Theatre and A Number at the Royal Court with Michael Gambon.”

He’s also familiar with American theater, having made his Broadway debut 12 years ago in A Steady Rain, a 2009 production where he starred opposite Hugh Jackman, who is also making a return to Broadway this season in The Music Man‘s revival. Craig also worked on Broadway in 2013 opposite Rafe Spall and Rachel Weisz in Betrayal, a Mike Nichols directed version of the Harold Pinter story.

Mike Nichols, known for his directing of such films as Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The Graduate, Working Girl, and Charlie Wilson’s War, further shows the crossover between the film industry and live theater.

Craig’s co-star, Ruth Negga, has star power in her own right, having been nominated for an Oscar for her role in 2016’s Loving. She debuted in New York theater playing the starring role of Hamlet last year. Her UK resume is polished as well, featuring such credits as productions at such theaters as “The Abbey Theatre, The Royal Court Theatre, The Old Vic, and The National Theatre.”

She’s connected to a franchise as well with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having appeared in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. She was in Preacher on AMC and is set to star in the Netflix film, Passing, in a role opposite Tessa Thompson.

The Macbeth broadway announcement comes shortly after Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth premiered at the opening night of the New York Film Festival. His interpretation features Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and is already in Oscar discussion.

Time will tell if the latest Broadway production will be in Tony Award talks, but a beloved classic with star power in the cast is always a great thing to have.

General ticket sales for the Broadway show staring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga begins on Friday, October 8th, with pre-sales beginning Wednesday, October 6th.

Are you excited to see Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga on Broadway? Sound off in the comments.