Previews of the Hollywood satire began Feb. 1.
Old Vic artistic director Kevin Spacey announced last May that he intended to revive Speed-the-Plow and play the role of Bobby Gould, the senior of two Hollywood producers. But in a casting twist director Matthew Warchus decided against casting Spacey in the role.
"During casting auditions, Matthew decided that Kevin Spacey was better suited for Charlie Fox," the show's spokesperson told Playbill.com.
Instead, Goldblum plays Gould, the producer who decides whether to back a star-vehicle prison movie or an adaptation based on a novel by a great writer. Spacey plays Gould's fellow producer and verbal sparring partner Charlie Fox.
Laura Michelle Kelley has moved from Warchus' production of Lord of the Rings to make her straight play debut as Karen, the role originated by Madonna in the 1988 New York world premiere of Mamet's play. In an earlier statement, Spacey said, "I am pleased to welcome my friend and a great actor Jeff Goldblum to the Old Vic. I know we are both very excited about discovering this challenging Mamet work with Matthew and Laura. I have always wanted to work with Jeff, and I couldn't be happier that it will be in this great play."
The play opens just one month after another major Mamet revival, Glengarry Glen Ross, starring Jonathan Pryce and Aidan Gillen, finished its season at the West End's Apollo Theatre.
Goldblum is best known for his screen credits, including "The Fly," "Jurassic Park" and "The Tall Guy." In 2005 he received an Outer Critics Circle Award for his Broadway performance in The Pillowman.
Kelly won a Best Actress Olivier for her creation of Mary Poppins in the Disney/Cameron Mackintosh stage production. Other credits include Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and David Leveux's Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof.
As well as Lord of the Rings' director Warchus' credits include Yasmina Reza's Art; the English-language London world premiere of Reza's latest play, God of Carnage, starring Ralph Fiennes; and the Broadway-bound Boeing-Boeing.
For more on Speed-the-Plow, call 0870 060 6628.
