Cate Blanchett is stepping into Bette Davis’ shoes. The two-time Oscar winner will portray Margo Channing in a stage production of “All About Eve,” the New York Times reports. Adapted from Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s 1950 film, the play will bow next spring in London’s West End, but no specific dates or a location have been announced yet.
Sonia Friedman Productions and Fox Stage Productions are producing, NYT writes. Tony winner Ivo van Hove (“View From a Bridge”) will direct and adapt the classic film for the stage.
Based on a short story by Mary Orr, “All About Eve” depicts the intensifying rivalry between Margo (Davis), an acclaimed but aging and bitter Broadway star, and young actress Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter). Eve originally arrives on the scene to learn from Margo, but she’s far from a naive ingenue. She eventually ingratiates herself into Margo’s personal life, and is ambitious and calculating enough to completely usurp Margo’s career.
The 1950 film earned a record 14 Oscar nominations — including nods for Davis and Baxter — and took home six awards such as Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.
“Plenty,” “Uncle Vanya,” and “Hedda Gabler” are among Blanchett’s previous stage credits. The “Carol” actress made her Broadway debut with “The Present” in January.
Blanchett received Oscars for her performances in “Blue Jasmine” and “The Aviator.” Her upcoming projects include Marvel’s “Thor: Ragnarok,” the all-female “Ocean’s Eight,” and “Where’d You Go, Bernadette,” an adaptation of Maria Semple’s best-selling novel.
You can catch Blanchett next in “Manifesto,” which sees the actress portraying 13 different characters sharing their personal manifestos. It hits theaters May 10.
