Philip Seymour Hoffman To Play Iago

NEW YORK — The Public Theater says Philip Seymour Hoffman is set to play Iago in an off-Broadway revival of "Othello" next season.

An Oscar winner for the film "Capote," Hoffman will star as one of Shakespeare's most conniving villains in the production at New York University's Skirball (SKUR'-ball) Center from Sept. 12 to Oct. 4.

John Ortiz (OR'-tease), Hoffman's longtime collaborator at the LAByrinth Theater, will play Othello. The production will be a joint presentation of the Public and LAByrinth.

Also on the Public's schedule for its 2009-2010 season are two world premieres: Richard Foreman's "Idiot Savant," starring Willem Dafoe, and "Snake" by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks.

Comments

[lioness39]

04:15 PM on 05/28/2009

I find Hoffman such an outstanding actor. He is absolutely stunning in the way he nails a role.

[TJCole]

12:04 PM on 05/28/2009

He must be killing as Iago...talk about a role he can get into that's one of them for sure...

[amamomofsons]

09:34 AM on 05/28/2009

My daughter saw him two days ago outside her flat in Vienna. It seems he is playing Lago there for a few weeks to get ready for the American show. He is brilliant and will bring a wonderful evil depth to the roll. I for one am a huge fan and think the casting of him as Lago is inspired..

[tatianalensky]

05:39 PM on 05/28/2009

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marin Ireland, John Ortiz in a Peter Sellars production. Othello is playing 5 days in June during the Vienna Festival weeks.

thanks for the tip. Will go see it.

[shanesmom]

01:26 AM on 05/28/2009

Love this man's acting talent but man, he just keeps getting uglier the older he gets. Give him another 10 years and his head will be about 4 feet tall.

[1logicalthinker]

01:59 AM on 05/28/2009

Sounds as if it's pretty shallow at your end of the gene pool.

[amamomofsons]

08:21 PM on 05/28/2009

Thanks Ilogicalthinker. I wanted to say the same thing..

[jjgg5]

10:42 PM on 05/27/2009

If necessary, I will crawl from Cincinnati to New York to see this production.

[TigersEye]

09:18 PM on 05/27/2009

I liked Toby Jones better as Capote (in Infamous) but Hoffman was excellent in Doubt and everything else I've seen him in to date. I'm sure he'll nail this role as well.

[PoliticalAmazon]

08:03 PM on 05/27/2009

I saw Lawrence Fishbein as Othello. I hope Ortiz can bring it like Fishbein did.

Hoffman s Iago---hmmm--I can't envision it, but he usually nails the roles he accepts, so I assume he'll do the same this time.

I wish Joaquin Phoenix was still acting. He would make a dynamite Iago. Phoenix's interpretation of Commodus ("Gladiator") was so twisted with such dark emotions.

[marymansour]

07:07 PM on 05/27/2009

America's best actor, IMO.

[PoliticalAmazon]

08:05 PM on 05/27/2009

What I like about Hoffman is that, as successful as he is, he has not slipped into the "template acting" gig.

I can't wach Nicholson or Hackman anymore--it's the same character in a new suit and a new house.

But Hoffman--he goes for it, 110%, and leaves his pride at the door.

[thetaoofterri]

08:54 AM on 05/28/2009

Agreed.

[Pupadup4oBama]

06:31 PM on 05/27/2009

Brilliant casting....I can't remember the name of the movie....but he played a brother to Ethan Hawke...I swear PSH was the devil himself.

[1logicalthinker]

01:56 AM on 05/28/2009

The film was "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead."

[Mathend99]

02:02 AM on 05/28/2009

It's called "Before the devil knows you're dead"

[BlueZoo]

06:12 PM on 05/27/2009

What a terrific reason to get to New York in September! I've thought for a long while now that Hoffman is our greatest living actor! His portrayal of Iago should be something not to be missed!

[redsongia]

04:06 PM on 05/27/2009

nice!

[SaltySaltillo]

03:55 PM on 05/27/2009

great role for a remarkable actor. I was just watching "Talented Mr. Ripley" the other day thinking how much I liked his character in that movie.

[redsongia]

04:07 PM on 05/27/2009

I just saw Boogie Nights for the first time and thought the same thing. Great character and no one else could have pulled it off so well.

[JenniferWest]

06:23 PM on 05/27/2009

Another fav of mine. He was great.

[JenniferWest]

03:25 PM on 05/27/2009

I'm a big fan of Phil Hoffman. I'll go see this play. I love how he almost disappears into his roles. Many great performances. But none, for me, top Boogie Nights! By the way I met him a couple times when he was doing True West on Broadway (around 2000?). He was congenial and unassuming. Not only that, he smiled and nodded to me later during standing ovation, which he did not have to do! I think he appreciated having a groupie in the first row! Also starred John Reilly. Great play...Anyways... It's pretty intrusive to go up to these guys on their "own time". I don't usually do it. Must be attracted to
Phil's brains, because I was in a bar in Venice with Jude Law and never even said hi!!!!

[nycvagabond]

02:28 PM on 05/27/2009

wow.. i cant believe how many people are bad mouthing hoffman... for what reason? he is a brilliant actor.. one of the best of our time.. only a fool would say otherwise

[amamomofsons]

02:10 PM on 05/27/2009

My daughter called from Vienna Austria and said that she ran into him on the street outside her home yesterday. It seems that he is playing a short stint in Othello there before he brings it to the states. I think it is brilliant casting. I think he is brilliant!!!!