The New York Times reports that Tony and Academy Award winner Mike Nichols will stage the classic drama that will co-star Tony nominee Linda Emond (The Winter's Tale, Life (x) 3) as Linda Loman. Nichols and Hoffman have been discussing the revival for some time, and both sought Emond for the role.

Casting Hoffman, who is 43, would seem a departure from Miller's script, which places Loman in his early 60's for much of the play. However, Lee J. Cobb, who originated the role in the premiere 1949 Broadway production, was only 37 years old when he tackled the part. Brian Dennehy has been the only actor in his 60's to play Loman on Broadway.

"Willy is different ages over the course of the play — young, middle-aged, old — but what matters is finding the right man to play the part," Nichols told the Times.

Hoffman last appeared on Broadway as James Tyrone, Jr. in Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night. He garnered a Tony Award nomination for his work. He has also appeared in revivals of True West and Miss Julie. His last New York stage appearance was the Peter Sellars production of Othello at the Public Theater in 2009. He earned an Oscar for "Capote," and nominations for "Charlie Wilson's War" and "Doubt."

Nichols' last Broadway outing was the short-lived revival of The Country Girl. He has received nine Tony Awards for works including Spamalot, The Odd Couple and The Real Thing. He earned an Academy Award for "The Graduate."