Ken Watanabe Sets Return Date to Broadway's The King & I After Undergoing Treatment for Stomach Cancer

Ken Watanabe, whose return to The King and I has been delayed while he is treated for stomach cancer, is now set to begin performances on March 17 (instead of March 1). Hoon Lee will continue to play the titular King of Siam through March 16. Watanabe earned a Tony nomination for his performance opposite Kelli O’Hara in the Tony-winning revival, which is playing at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater.

Jose Llana, who previously succeeded Watanabe, will still do so once again beginning April 19 for two weeks. On May 3, Daniel Dae Kim will make his Broadway debut as the King for an eight-week run.

Watanabe received an Oscar nod for his performance in the 2004 film The Last Samurai. His additional film credits include Batman Begins, Inception, Letters from Iwo Jima and the 2014 reboot of Godzilla.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical, set in 1860s Bangkok, tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher, whom the imperious King brings to Siam to tutor his many wives and children. The current cast also includes Tony winner Ruthie Ann Miles as Lady Thiang, Conrad Ricamora as Lun Tha and Ashley Park as Tuptim.