“The Bear” co-stars Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach will make their Broadway debuts in “Dog Day Afternoon.” A stage version of Sidney Lumet’s 1975 crime classic will open in the spring of 2026.
It’s unclear how closely the play will adhere to the plot of the Oscar-winning film. Set in the dead of summer 1972, the story follows a first-time crook who leads a Brooklyn bank robbery that quickly devolves into a hostage situation. As a media circus develops and the FBI arrives, the band of criminals find themselves unexpectedly reveling in the attention.
Character names seem to have slightly changed from the movie version. Bernthal is playing Sonny Amato, likely the role originated by Al Pacino on screen. Moss-Bachrach will portray Sal DeSilva, presumably whom John Cazale played in the movie. Additional cast members have yet to be announced.
Rupert Goold (“Judy,” “King Charles III”) will direct “Dog Day Afternoon.” Stephen Adly Guirgis, whose theater bona fides include “Between Riverside and Crazy” and “The Motherf***er With the Hat,” is writing the play.
Though Bernthal has never been on Broadway, the veteran actor has performed on stage in productions of “Ironbound,” “Small Engine Repair” and “This Is Our Youth.” On film and television, he’s best known for “The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Baby Driver,” “The Accountant,” “King Richard,” “The Punisher” and “The Walking Dead.”
Moss-Bachrach also appeared in “The Punisher” as well as HBO’s “Girls” before his breakout role on “The Bear,” which earned him two Emmy Awards. He’ll be seen next in Marvel’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” with Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn and Vanessa Kirby.
Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures is producing the stage version of “Dog Day Afternoon,” having previously backed productions such as “Beetlejuice,” “The Outsiders” and “Good Night, and Good Luck.” The company’s other upcoming musical ventures include “The Lost Boys” and “Crazy Rich Asians.”