Irons to return to the British stage

LONDON, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Jeremy Irons has signed up to star in Dennis Kelly's new stage drama "The Gods Weep," which begins performances in March, the Royal Shakespeare Company said.

Irons' films include "Reversal of Fortune," "The Mission," "The Lion King," "The Man in the Iron Mask," and "The Merchant of Venice."

The BBC said "The Gods Weep" marks Irons' first collaboration with the RSC since he played Leontes in "The Winter's Tale" and the title role in "Richard II" in 1986-87.

His latest stage project "explores what happens when corporate greed and state security frighteningly overlap," the BBC noted.