Theater Arts
‘Dog Day Afternoon’ Is Coming to Broadway — With Two Stars From ‘The Bear’ in the Lead
Broadway is about to get a significant jolt of adrenaline. The iconic 1975 film Dog Day Afternoon, renowned for its gritty realism and heartbreaking humanity, is being reimagined for the stage and will premiere on Broadway in spring 2026. The upcoming production will star Emmy winners Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, both acclaimed for their work in FX’s The Bear.
This marks the Broadway debut for both actors, though they are no strangers to theater. Jon Bernthal studied in Moscow and founded a theater company in New York, while Ebon Moss-Bachrach honed his craft at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts. Despite their extensive screen credits—Jon Bernthal in The Accountant franchise and Ebon Moss-Bachrach in Girls and the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot—they’re ready to return to their stage roots in a production that’s already generating buzz.
A Legendary Film Reborn for Broadway
Directed by Rupert Goold, the artistic director of London’s Almeida Theater and a two-time Tony nominee (King Charles III, Ink), the stage adaptation will stay true to the film’s harrowing plot. Dog Day Afternoon tells the story of Sonny, a desperate man who attempts a Brooklyn bank robbery to pay for his partner’s gender-transition surgery. What begins as a quick heist spirals into a tense hostage situation and media frenzy.
The original film, directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Al Pacino, earned critical acclaim and won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The true story it was based on shocked New Yorkers in the early ’70s—and its themes of identity, desperation, and public spectacle remain disturbingly relevant today.
On Broadway stage, Jon Bernthal will take on Al Pacino’s iconic role of Sonny, while Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s role is still under wraps, though many suspect he’ll play Sal, Sonny’s (Al Pacino) troubled accomplice.
A Pulitzer-Winning Playwright Behind the Script
Adding to the excitement is the involvement of Stephen Adly Guirgis, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright known for Between Riverside and Crazy and his raw portrayals of working-class New Yorkers. Guirgis brings a sharp, empathetic voice to the adaptation, perfectly suited for a story about flawed people under extreme pressure.
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The project has been in development since 2016 and is being produced by Warner Bros. Theater Ventures—the same company behind the original film—alongside producers Sue Wagner, John Johnson, and Patrick Catullo. While specific Broadway dates and the theatre have not yet been announced, anticipation is already building among theatregoers and fans of the original film alike.
A High-Stakes Story for a New Generation
With Dog Day Afternoon heading to Broadway, it brings not just nostalgia but also urgency. In an age of political polarization, mental health crises, and debates around gender identity, the story feels timelier than ever.
Whether you’re a Broadway purist or a fan of Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach or “The Bear,” this production is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated shows of 2026.
