James Corden makes Broadway comeback a year after leaving The Late Late Show
James Corden, British comedian and TV host, now based in California, says every race, creed and sexuality would always be welcome at the theatre. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
James Corden is set to return to Broadway next summer, taking on the role of Serge in a new production of ART, Yasmina Reza's acclaimed comedy about friendship, ego, and modern art.
The limited three-month run will mark the British comedian and presenter's much-anticipated stage comeback. The 46-year-old actor, known for hosting The Late Late Show in Los Angeles for eight years and starring as Smithy in Gavin and Stacey, last won a Tony Award for his performance in One Man, Two Guvnors in 2012. American theatre director Scott Ellis, whose credits include Pirates! (or, Gilbert and Sullivan Plunder'd) and A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical, will direct the production.
Corden left The Late Late Show in 2023 to return to the UK, prioritising family life over his late-night career. Despite rumours he was fired, he clarified that he chose to relocate so his children could spend more time with their grandparents and reconnect with their British roots. Since his return, he has resumed acting and taken on new projects, including starring in The Constituent at London's Old Vic.
ART originally premiered in Paris in 1994 before moving to London's West End and Broadway, winning Olivier, Tony, and Molière Awards for Best Play. The story focuses on three friends—Serge, Marc, and Yvan—whose relationships are tested when Serge buys an expensive, entirely white painting. Themes of taste, loyalty, and fragile male friendship are explored in the play, which is being revived on Broadway for the first time in over a decade.
Corden, who lives in the UK with his wife Julia Carey and their three children, will spend several weeks in New York rehearsing ahead of the official run. As per MailOnline, a theatre insider told, 'It's exciting to see James Corden return to the stage in ART — even if only for 90 minutes a night. While his recent turn in The Constituent at the Old Vic was somewhat underwhelming, this new production is sure to be one of Broadway's hottest tickets.'
In addition to his theatre plans, reports suggest Corden is considering a future in politics. Sources told The Mail on Sunday that the actor has expressed interest in potentially running for Mayor of London. At the recent BAFTA television awards, he revealed to political figures and podcast hosts his respect for those in public office and hinted at ambitions to enter the political arena.
Corden's representatives have been contacted for comment.
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