Denzel Washington headed for Broadway

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Denzel Washington will play Brutus in a limited Broadway run of "Julius Caesar," Daily Variety reported Monday.

The two-time Oscar-winning actor had planned to shoot a film in Harlem during the fall, but the project -- "American Gangster" -- was canceled abruptly by Universal Pictures.

Because Washington's movie deal was pay-or-play -- meaning he will collect installment payments totaling $20 million from Universal until March -- he is free to do the Shakespeare play at a relative bargain salary of $1,200 per week, Variety said.

Rehearsals are scheduled to begin Jan. 24 and previews are scheduled to begin March 1 at the Belasco Theater.