Emma Corrin and Kodi Smit-McPhee are set to join Cate Blanchett in a highly anticipated adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s classic play The Seagull, which is making its way to London’s Barbican Theatre in 2025. Corrin, known for their role as the villainous Cassandra Nova in the upcoming Deadpool and Wolverine films, will take on the character of Nina, a young woman navigating the complexities of love and ambition.
Smit-McPhee, recognized for his breakout performance in Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog and his upcoming appearance alongside Angelina Jolie in the Netflix drama Maria, is excited to reunite with Blanchett on stage. The duo previously collaborated in Alfonso Cuarón’s drama Disclaimer, where they portray a mother-son dynamic. In The Seagull, Blanchett will embody Irina Arkadina, a prominent actress, while Smit-McPhee plays her son, Konstantin.
The play, directed by noteworthy German theatre figure Thomas Ostermeier, will also feature a stellar cast including Tom Burke as Trigorin, Arkadina’s lover, alongside Priyanga Burford, Zachery Hart, Paul Higgins, Tanya Reynolds, and Jason Watkins filling out crucial roles.
Ostermeier has chosen Corrin for the role of Nina, a character who captures Konstantin’s heart, even as she pursues Trigorin for her own ambitions. The stylish production promises to bring fresh energy to this timeless narrative, with preview performances kicking off on February 26, followed by the official opening on March 6. The limited run will conclude on April 5.
The Seagull has a rich history of being performed by some of theatre’s most celebrated talents, and Blanchett adds her name to that remarkable list, following a memorable stint on stage in 2019 in When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other. Both she and Corrin have found significant success in theatrical realms, with Corrin impressively taking on various roles since their emergence in The Crown.
With set design by Magda Willi and costumes by Marg Horwell, the production is produced by Wessex Grove in partnership with Gavin Kalin Productions and the Barbican. As the anticipation builds for this theatrical event, fans can look forward to a dynamic retelling of Chekhov’s enduring themes of love, art, and the struggles of an artist’s life.