Clive Owen to star in Julie Taymor's revival of M. Butterfly

It has now been officially confirmed that the previously rumored Broadway revival of David Henry Hwang's 1988 play M. Butterfly will be part of the 2017-2018 Broadway season.

Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Clive Owen will return to the Great White Way to take on the role of Rene Gallimard under the direction of Tony winner Julie Taymor.

An official opening date is scheduled for October 26, 2017 at a yet-to-be confirmed Broadway theatre.

Synopsis: "The modern classic M. Butterfly charts the scandalous romance between a married French diplomat and a mysterious Chinese opera singer - a remarkable love story of international espionage and personal betrayal. Their 20-year relationship pushed and blurred the boundaries between male and female, east and west - while redefining the nature of love and the devastating cost of deceit."

M. Butterfly is produced on Broadway by Nelle Nugent, Steve Traxler, Kenneth Teaton, Benjamin Feldman, and Doug Morris.

Additional casting and creative team members, as well as a first preview date and venue, will be announced at a later date.

The production would mark the first major New York revival of the Pulitzer Prize finalist play, which won the Tony Award for 'Best Play' in 1988 and also earned director John Dexter a Tony for 'Best Direction of a Play' and B.D. Wong a Tony for 'Best Featured Actor in a Play.' The play also earned Tony nominations for scenic, costume and lighting design and a 'Best Actor in a Play' nod for John Lithgow.

M. Butterfly held its world premiere in Washington, D.C. at the National Theatre in 1988 before transferring to Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre, where it played a total of 9 previews and 777 regular performances.

Clive Owen made his Broadway debut in the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of Harold Pinter's Old Times at the American Airlines Theatre in 2015. His previous West End credits include 'Romeo & Juliet,' 'Design for Living,' 'Closer,' and 'A Day in the Death of Joe Egg.' On screen, he picked up a BAFTA and a Golden Globe, as well as an Academy Award nomination, for his role as Larry in "Closer" in 2005. He earned an Emmy nomination and Golden Globe nomination for "Hemingway & Gellhorn" in 2012/13, and a further Golden Globe nomination at for "The Knick" (2015). Other screen credits include "Children of Men," "Inside Man," "The Bourne Identity," "Elizabeth: The Golden Age," "Sin City," "Gosford Park," and "King Arthur."

Julie Taymor was last represented in New York for directing Oscar winner Anne Hathaway in 'Grounded' at the Public Theater. She won Tony awards in 1998 for 'The Lion King' in the categories of "Best Direction of a Musical" and "Best Costume Design." She also earned Tony nominations in 1997 for 'Juan Darien' for directing and scenic design. Other theatre credits include 'The Green Bird,' 'Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark,' 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' and 'The Magic Flute' at the Metropolitan Opera.