John Boyega goes from 'Star Wars' to London's Old Vic stage
LONDON (AP) — John Boyega is going from space battles in "Star Wars" to earthbound struggles onstage at London's Old Vic Theatre.
The theater says the 24-year-old actor will get his first West End starring role in "Woyzeck," the story of a soldier who commits an act of brutal violence. The new version of Georg Buchner's 19th-century drama is written by Jack Thorne, the playwright behind "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child."
Boyega, who played Finn in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," is currently filming the eighth instalment in the sci-fi saga.
FILE - This is a Monday, Dec. 28, 2015 file photo of actor John Boyega speaks during a press conference of his latest movie "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in Shanghai, China. John Boyega is going from space battles in ¿Star Wars¿ to earthbound struggles onstage at London¿s Old Vic Theatre. The theater says the 24-year-old actor will get his first West End starring role in ¿Woyzeck,¿ the story of a soldier who commits an act of brutal violence. (AP Photo/File)
The play, which opens in February 2017, was announced Wednesday as part of the Old Vic's 2016-2017 season.
The lineup also includes a production of Shakespeare's "King Lear" starring Glenda Jackson and a 20th-anniversary revival of Yasmina Reza's global hit "Art."