James Franco to Make His Broadway Debut in Of Mice and Men Revival

James Franco is finally going to make his Broadway debut. The Oz the Great and Powerful star is planning to play George in a Broadway revival of Of Mice and Men, he revealed during a visit to The Colbert Report on March 5. No timeline, other cast and creative team members or theater have been revealed for the production at this time.

The actor/ director/ model/ poet/ experimental-artist/ one-time-Oscar-host originally planned to bring his talents to the Broadway stage opposite Nicole Kidman in a 2011 revival of Sweet Bird of Youth. The production, which was to be directed by David Cromer, never materialized.

Adapted from John Steinbeck's novel of the same name, Of Mice and Men first played Broadway in 1937. Set in California during the Great Depression, the play follows two migrant workers George (Franco), a sharp but uneducated man, and Lennie, a large but simple-minded man. Together they hope to one day acquire their own piece of land. The show last played Broadway in 1974 with a revival starring James Earl Jones and Kevin Conway. 

Franco earned an Oscar nod for playing stranded explorer Aron Ralston in 127 Hours. His many other film credits include The Pineapple Express, Spider-Man, Milk, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Eat Pray Love and Knocked Up. 

No actor has been announced for the role of Lennie, but Franco has an idea of who he'd like to share the stage with eight times a week. Watch him try to convince Stephen Colbert to tackle the role below!