Variety reports that Slater will star as Chance Wayne in a West End revival of Sweet Bird of Youth. An American actress is being sought to play opposite Slater in the Tennessee Williams play. Terry Johnson, who directed Slater in Cuckoo's Nest, will also helm the Williams revival. The production is scheduled to begin rehearsals in August with an opening — possibly at the Gielgud Theatre — in late September. No other details have been announced.
Williams' Sweet Bird of Youth debuted in 1959 at the Martin Beck Theatre with Paul Newman as Chance Wayne and Geraldine Page as Princess Kosmonopolous. Both stars reprised their performances in the 1962 film. The story concerns ageing film star Kosmonopolous' relationship with gigolo Wayne. The most recent West End production at the National Theatre featured Clare Higgins and Rob Knepper in the lead roles. Richard Eyre directed that 1994 mounting at the National Theatre.
Christian Slater made his Broadway debut in the 1980 revival of The Music Man. His other Main Stem credits include Copperfield, Macbeth, Merlin and Side Man. Among Slater's many film credits are "Mindhunters," "The Contender," "White Lies," "Very Bad Things," "Bed of Roses," "Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles," "True Romance," "Mobsters," "Pump Up the Volume," "Heathers," "Gleaming the Cube," "Twisted" and "The Legend of Billie Jean."