Lily James and Richard Madden to Lead Kenneth Branagh's ROMEO AND JULIET in the West End

The Daily Mail writes that Lily James and Richard Madden will play Shakespeare's iconic, star-crossed lovers in ROMEO AND JULIET, directed by Kenneth Branagh next spring for his new theatre company's inaugural season at the Garrick Theatre in London.

Read the original story here.

James is known for playing 'Lady Rose' on DOWNTON ABBEY and will soon appear in BBC TV's upcoming WAR AND PEACE miniseries. Among the actress' past stage credits are the Young Vic's VERNON GOD LITTLE, Southwark's THE SEAGULL, OTHELLO at the Crucible, and Orange Tree's PLAY HOUSE and DEFINITELY THE BAHAMAS. She has recently appeared on the big screen in WRATH OF THE TITANS and FAST GIRLS.

This isn't Madden's first time tackling the role of 'Romeo' -- he appeared in ROMEO AND JULIET at the Globe Theatre and on tour in 2007. He also took the stage in the National Theatre of Scotland's BE NEAR ME. Madden starred as 'Robb Stark' in HBO's GAME OF THRONES and will next be seen on the big screen in BASTILLE DAY. Among his past screen credits are HOPE SPRINGS, CHATROOM, WORRIED ABOUT THE BOY and more.

Branagh directed James and Madden in Disney's new live-action CINDERELLA movie. The actor-helmer also starred as 'Romeo' in a production of ROMEO AND JULIET opposite Samantha Bond at the Lyric, Hammersmith almost 30 years ago, presented by his and David Parfitt's Renaissance Theatre Company.

Five-time Academy Award nominee Branagh has directed and starred in several film adaptations of Shakespeare's plays, including HENRY V, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, OTHELLO, HAMLET, LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST and AS YOU LIKE IT. The ambitious thesp is also in talks to bring his Manchester International Festival production of MACBETH (which ran recently in New York City at the Park Avenue Armory) to London and to the big screen with Martin Scorsese.