Kenneth Branagh Top Pick to Replace Kevin Spacey as Old Vic Artistic Director in 2015?

The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye reports that Kenneth Branagh, currently starring in his production of Macbeth at the Manchester International Festival, could be the top contender to take over as the Old Vic's new artistic director when Kevin Spacey steps down in September 2015.

A spokesperson for the Old Vic told the mail there would be "much speculation about names" but that "the process is only now formally beginning."

Read the original report here.

The Old Vic board met on July 10th to discuss the forthcoming succession process and appointed Sue Storr to lead the search for Spacey's replacement. Storr acted in a similar role for the Royal Court, where Vicky Featherstone is now following Dominic Cooke's tenure.

Branagh founded the Renaissance Theatre Company in the '80s with David Parfitt and has experience with the business side of theatre.

A celebrated Shakespeare actor, Branagh, who is currently directing Macbeth alongside Rob Ashford a Manchester, appeared in Renaissance Theatre Company's Hamlet in 1988, played opposite Emma Thompson in Renaissance's Look Back in Anger, and later as Richard III in a Sheffield production. He starred in the Royal National Theatre's Edmond and directed The Play What I Wrote for Broadway in 2003. In 2008, Branagh appeared in the West End's Ivanov revival. Branagh has also appeared on television in the series Wallander, recently in My Week with Marilyn, and in many film adaptations of Shakespeare's plays.

Branagh will next direct the live-action adaptation of Cinderella, starring Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter and Lily James, and his film Jack Ryan is in post-production.

Photo Credit: Rex / Rex USA

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