From Blackaddar to Mr. Bean to Fagin

I’m not usually one for posting casting news, but this one brought a little smile to my face. Rowan Atkinson, of Mr. Bean and Blackadder fame, will play Fagin in the new Cameron Mackintosh production of Oliver!, which will open in London in January 2009. The sad thing, of course, is that his Nancy is being cast by the BBC1 reality show “I’d Do Anything” where 12 finalists were recently announced. 3 young lads are also being chosen to share the title role.

In a statement, Atkinson said, "In the 1980s I enjoyed doing a lot of West End theatre and since then have been distracted very much by Mr. Bean and film making. I had been thinking for some time about returning to the stage and the idea of the role of Fagin, which has long intrigued me, (some time ago I even played the role in a school production), seemed like too good an opportunity to miss."