This article first ran in Stage Whisperer, Vulture’s newsletter about all things theater. Subscribe here to get it weekly!
First came Kumail Nanjiani. Now it’s Simu Liu. Who’s next?
Photo: Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
On Tuesday, Oh, Mary! announced that Simu Liu will make his Broadway debut on February 3 in the role of Mary’s Teacher, opposite John Cameron Mitchell as Mary Todd Lincoln. Liu, who broke out as superhero Shang-Chi in Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, will not be the first MCU alum to co-star in Cole Escola’s self-proclaimed “greatest play of the generation.” Kumail Nanjiani — a genuine highlight of The Eternals as (I swear I’m not making this superhero name up) Kingo — played Mary’s Husband opposite Jinkx Monsoon earlier this year.
Oh, Mary! casting announcements are already sort of like MCU announcements for New York gays (the character of Mary is essentially their Deadpool, for what it’s worth), and with the show continuing to extend its hit run, it’s seems like only a matter of time until a third Marvel supe hits the Lyceum and makes this a trend. We predicted who it could be.
Rebecca Alter: So now we’re at two instances of MCU casting in the MTU (Mary Todd Universe).
Jason P. Frank: Yes, Robert Downey Jr. must be next.
Zach Schiffman: Tony Macht is the next Iron Man.
Jason: Tom Holland as the Chaperone.
Zach: God, you know who would be so good as Mary’s Teacher? Paul Rudd.
Jackson McHenry: We aren’t that far from Brie Larson Chaperone.
Zach: Florence Pugh Mary. Mary has a septum piercing.
Jackson: Florence would be good, sorry.
Zach: I mean, Julia Louis-Dreyfus or Kathryn Hahn Mary, obviously. Both Marvel.
Fran Hoepfner: Aubrey would do great, too.
Jason: Joe Locke.
Rebecca: Gwyneth.
Zach: Gwyneth would hear the Blythe Danner announcement and be like, “Who is that?”
Fran: Glenn Close Mary.
Rebecca: Glenn Close Lincoln (in the Albert Nobbs getup).
Jackson: An L.A. Oh, Mary! with the cast of All’s Fair.
Zach: I would not be surprised at all if Sarah Paulson did it. And Niecy Nash would be amazing.
Jason: Kim as the Chaperone is kind of inspired. “Maryyyyyy, why did you make me put this bag of shit on my headddddd?”
Rebecca: You are describing the average episode of All’s Fair. “Carr, whyyy.”
Sign up for Stage Whisperer
Weekly theater news, delivered a little louder for the people in the back.
Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice
Related