48 Years After Playing Him, Denzel Washington Revisits Othello With Jake Gyllenhaal As His Iago

Forbes

24-03-2025

Love, hate, longing, jealousy, deception, passion, confusion, humor, loyalty and pain make for great drama. And all those emotions are on full display in Shakespeare's tragedy Othello. The play is as relevant today as when William Shakespeare first wrote it centuries ago between 1602 and 1604.
This latest Broadway revival, starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal maintains all those themes. The production has broken the record for the top-grossing play in Broadway history. After eight performances, the epic play, directed by Kenny Leon, grossed an epic $2,818,297.00.
Othello, (Washington), is a heroic and respected general in the Venetian army who has led his troops to victory. Iago, (Gyllenhaal), his ensign, has been overlooked for a promotion and is profoundly jealous of Othello. As Iago remains passionate about his extreme hate for Othello, Othello remains fiercely trusting of the man he calls 'honest Iago.'
Iago will stop at nothing to manipulate Othello. He even convinces Othello that his beloved wife, Desdemona, (Molly Osborne), is unfaithful. Othello, who by his own admission, 'loved not wisely, but too well,' spirals into a tempest of jealousy and madness.
Washington who had first played Othello when he was a 22-year-old student at Fordham University nearly five decades ago, was eager to revisit him. No stranger to Shakespeare, Washington played the title role in Richard III and Brutus in Julius Caesar on stage. Plus there was his riveting Macbeth in Joel Cohen's film adaptation. And curiously, the last production of Othello on Broadway was in 1982 with James Earl Jones in the title role.
Prolific Broadway producer Brian Anthony Moreland (The Wiz, August Wilson's The Piano Lesson, Thoughts of a Colored Man, American Buffalo), had gotten to know Washington as his son, John David Washington, starred in the Piano Lesson. During that time, Denzel Washington and Moreland began talks about collaborating on a project together, exploring various ideas.
Othello's lead producer, Brian Anthony Moreland
EMILIO MADRID
'Othello came up early in those conversations, but it wasn't immediately settled,' says Moreland. 'In fact, we initially selected a different play, but as things often go in this business, that project didn't pan out. As we circled back and considered other options, Othello was still very much in the mix.'
And then Moreland got what he refers to as his 'day one moment.' The moment the possibility of doing Othello became real.
'I received a call from Denzel. He was on the set of Gladiator II in Malta—and on the other end of the FaceTime were Connie Nielsen and Paul Mescal,' says Moreland. 'And they said, 'It's got to be Othello. He's got to do Othello. He's going to be 70. It has to be Othello.' Then Denzel got back on the call and said, 'It's Othello. That's what we're doing. I'm settled. Go make it so.''
Right after that call Moreland got the ball rolling. 'I reached out to Kenny Leon [who directed Washington in A Raisin in the Sun and Fences]….Immediately we thought of Jake. I put the call in and Jake said 'yes.' Then I reached out to the Shubert Organization to request a theater,' says Moreland. 'It has been thrilling ever since.'
Jeryl Brunner: What qualities do Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal have that makes them an ideal Othello and Iago?
Brian Anthony Moreland: Ultimately it was Jake's ability to see the true love between Iago and Othello and the challenges of the layered role. He was and is so magnetic as Iago. Jake holds the courage to be hard and soft at the same time. Which makes Jake interesting and perfect for Iago.
Denzel's qualities are a culmination of seventy years of wisdom, experience and passion for life and learning. His deep commitment to faith paired with a character who is in a battle of good versus bad and heaven and hell is also a layered understanding as to how Denzel's supportive Othello makes him perfect.
Brunner: Why was Kenny Leon the ultimate director for Othello?
Moreland: Kenny is a true linguist. Every actor comes with their own foreign language. A great director like Kenny learns each language so the actors and he can communicate. Then he brings the actors into the same world as the show's translator. This is Kenny's greatest gift.
Brunner: What do you hope people come away from this production?
Moreland: I hope people take away the understanding of how fragile love is, and what happens when love is misused and abused. So many people in the play are characters in pain. We can heal our pains with love. Also, I hope this production leaves people saying Shakespeare was so ahead of his time.
Brunner: Is there something you wish you could say to Iago or Othello?
Moreland: I wish I could heal Iago's pain. He is so-so,so hurt by Othello's actions. I wish Iago could have just had a conversation with his friend. Instead the temper flares.
Brunner: Iago spreads lies and convinces people to believe the worst in others. Why do you think Othello, who calls him 'honest Iago,' believed all the terrible things Iago said about Desdemona being unfaithful?
Moreland: Othello's love of Iago. Othello calls Iago 'honest Iago.' His friend the most trusted would never lie. So when Iago does in fact create this lie Othello believes it fully.
Brunner: So many people want to see this production of Othello but don't have the means. What are some other options for people to get tickets that are less expensive?
Moreland: Great question. We have ticket availability across many different price points. We have a digital lottery for $49. Also, beginning this week, we will start our $50 student Rush tickets at the box office window with valid Student ID. Best tip: check 96 hours before a show's performance as seats are always released. At least until they are completely sold out.
Brunner: What inspired you to become a producer?
Moreland: I was inspired by seeing people come together and create art. I find producing to be like a game of human Tetris. You keep moving things around until it is just the right fit. My curiosity of people helps drive pairings of teams. I say my job as producer is simply to create a room that is safe, supportive and a clear path for my director's vision to thrive and the actors can be their most creative selves.
Brunner: When you hear "no" what inspires you to keep going and stay intrepid?
Moreland: I gave a Ted X talk on 'unconditional investing.' People have 'invested in me,' not with money but their time, minds, and talents, that have led me to who I am today. Their investments in me as a youth came with an ROI that no one expected.
My mentors had zero conditions for their willingness to give to me. As a result, when faced with adversity and the word NO, I hear the people who have poured in to me say 'keep going.' I do that by putting one foot in front of the other.