John Malkovich is to star in a West End play inspired by disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
Bitter Wheat is being written by Pulitzer prize-winning David Mamet, who will also direct.
Malkovich, who is returning to the West End after nearly 30 years, admitted the play may “upset” some people.
The 65-year-old described it as “a black farce about a very badly behaved media mogul” and said Weinstein was the “starting point” for the play.
Dangerous Liaisons and Bird Box star Malkovich, inset, will play Barney Fein, a depraved Hollywood producer, in the production which will open at the Garrick Theatre in June. It will also star Doon Mackichan.
The actor told the BBC: “Of course it might upset people who’ve experienced the kind of treatment that the play contains and describes. A lot of people may not like it. But what can I do about that?
“I think it’s a terrific piece of writing. A lot of people will laugh. A lot of comedy exists at the crossroads between pain and farce.”
Malkovich starred in the film Rounders, which was financed by Weinstein, but said that beyond that “I didn’t really have any connection with him”.
He added: “They say everyone in Hollywood knew [about his behaviour].
“But that’s not true. It was never a topic of conversation any time the name Harvey Weinstein came around with me.”
Scores of women have accused Weinstein of rape or sexual assault, and the allegations led to the #MeToo movement.
Weinstein denies any claims of non-consensual sex and has described allegations against him as “patently false”.
Previews for Bitter Wheat will start on June 7 with press night scheduled for June 19
Theatre to look forward to in 2019
