James Franco confirmed for ‘Of Mice and Men’ on Broadway

Following weeks of rumors, James Franco has been confirmed to star in an upcoming production of “Of Mice and Men” on Broadway.

The multitasking actor -- who lately has been devoting himself to directing, writing, the visual arts and a recent Comedy Central roast -- will co-star alongside Irish actor Chris O’Dowd in the production, which will begin performances on March 19.

Franco will play the role of George and O’Dowd will play his lumbering, mentally disabled friend Lennie -- two migrant laborers looking for work during the Great Depression. The play, which John Steinbeck adapted from his own novella, is a favorite among regional theaters and was last seen on Broadway in 1975, with James Earl Jones in the role of Lennie.

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Anna D. Shapiro, who won a Tony Award for directing “August: Osage County,” will stage the production at the Longacre Theatre in New York. The revival is expected to run through July 27.

“Of Mice and Men” will mark Franco’s Broadway debut. The official opening date for the run is April 16.

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