Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller will star in Danny Boyle’s forthcoming National Theatre debut, Frankenstein.
In an ambitious twist, Lee Miller and Cumberbatch will share the roles of Dr Frankenstein and the monster he creates, alternating parts each night. Boyle’s take on Mary Shelley’s literary classic will also tell the story from the monster’s point of view in a new version by playwright Nick Dear.
Set to be staged in the Olivier theatre, Cumberbatch will return to the National after starring in After The Dance earlier this year, earning him a nomination on the Evening Standard Theatre Awards long list. The Laurence Olivier Award nominated actor was much acclaimed for his recent title role in BBC drama Sherlock, and has been confirmed as the star of Steven Spielberg’s forthcoming film adaptation of the National Theatre’s drama War Horse. His past theatre credits include The City, The Arsonists and Rhinoceros for the Royal Court, Period Of Adjustment and The Lady From The Sea at the Almeida theatre and plays at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre including Romeo And Juliet and Oh, What a Lovely War!
Lee Miller is reunited with Boyle having starred in the director’s seminal 1996 film Trainspotting. His theatre credits include Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me, Beautiful Thing and The Play What I Wrote in the West End, Feston at the Almeida theatre and, most recently, After Miss Julie on Broadway. The actor is best know for his work on screen, appearing in television series including Dexter, Emma, Eli Stone and The Canterbury Tales, and films including The Flying Scotsman, Melina And Melinda, The Escapist and Mansfield Park.
The National theatre has yet to confirm dates and further casting details for Frankenstein.
CM