"Othello" On Broadway: Jake Gyllenhaal & Denzel Washington In Talks For Film Adaptation

Denzel Washington’s critically acclaimed turn as Othello on Broadway might not end with the stage. Director Kenny Leon confirmed there have “absolutely” been talks about adapting the hit play into a feature film, with Washington possibly reprising his powerful role.

Currently starring alongside Jake Gyllenhaal as Iago, Washington leads a fresh reimagining of Shakespeare’s “Othello,” now set in the near future.

The Broadway revival opened March 23, 2025, after a month of previews and is already making history — earning $2.8 million in its second week, the highest weekly gross for a Shakespeare play on Broadway.

This marks the first Broadway production of Othello in over 40 years, and anticipation is high that its momentum will carry over to film. Washington and Leon have successfully teamed up in the past for stage-to-screen projects like Fences, which earned multiple Oscar nominations. If the film moves forward, Gyllenhaal is also expected to reprise his role, according to Leon.

Leon emphasized the timelessness of Othello’s themes: “This play is about pure love — and what happens to it when rumors, lies, and jealousy creep in. That’s relevant in every generation.” While the director acknowledged the differences between film and theater, he believes the story’s “truth” will shine in both mediums.

Washington, who last appeared in a Shakespeare adaptation in 2021’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, continues to elevate classical works with modern intensity. With a film version of Othello on the horizon, audiences may soon get to witness this landmark performance beyond Broadway.

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Source: Indiewire

Photo Credit: Othello/Annie Leibovitz