London Odds & Ends: Imelda Staunton's Gypsy Pushes Back B'way Bow, John Hurt Withdraws from The Entertainer & More

Here's a quick roundup of stories you may have missed today from London.

Imelda Staunton's Gypsy Pushes Back Broadway Bow
Imelda Staunton may still have her turn on the Great White Way, but it will no longer be next year. The acclaimed U.K. revival of Gypsy, which ended its West End engagement on November 28, 2015, is now aiming to land on Broadway in 2018, the Daily Mail reports. Directed by Jonathan Kent, the classic tuner was most recently seen on Broadway in 2008 with Patti LuPone and in 2003 starring Bernadette Peters. In the meantime, Staunton may headline Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? in London.

John Hurt Withdraws from Branagh's The Entertainer
John Hurt has had to pull out from John Osborne’s The Entertainer on the advice of his doctors; the stage and screen vet had been set to take on the role of Billy Rice in the Rob Ashford and Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company production. “I have recently been in hospital with an intestinal complaint and although I am much improved and on the road to a full recovery, my doctors have advised that it is too soon for me to undertake a lengthy and arduous stage role,” said Hurt in a statement. Replacement casting will be announced later; The Entertainer begins previews on August 20 at the Garrick Theatre.

Amanda Holden Boards Cinderella
Wish granted! British TV favorite Amanda Holden is set to take on the role of The Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at the London Palladium this Christmas. Still no word yet on who will be playing the titular role—at one point Britney Spears was apparently eyeing it. The pantomime is scheduled to run December 9 through January 15, 2017, officially opening on December 14.

Gemma Arterton Tapped for Donmar's Fall Season
The prestigious Donmar Warehouse has announced its upcoming fall season. Gemma Arterton (Clash of the Titans) is set to headline Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan, under the direction of Josie Rourke, while Kwame Kwei-Armah will helm the U.K. premiere of Kemp Powers’ One Night in Miami…, with a cast including David Ajala as Jim Brown, Francois Battiste as Malcolm X, Sope Dirisu as Cassius Clay and Arinze Kene as Sam Cooke. This side of the pond, the Donmar will soon be bringing us the previously announced Daniel Radcliffe-led Privacy at the Public and Les Liaisons Dangereuses on Broadway.

P.S. And just because it's the Friday of July 4 weekend, check out the British Staunton performing the American classic at the Olivier Awards below!