Hugh Jackman, the famous Aussie actor currently on a round of X-Men promotion, has already announced his next acting gig: Broadway. Jackman, 45, will return to Broadway this fall in “The River,” a play by Jez Butterworth that tells the story of a fisherman (Jackman) and a missing woman, set in a remote cabin by the water. The play is moving over to Broadway after a successful run at the Royal Court in London, which opened in 2012.

The play starts previews on October 31st, with opening night slated for November 16th at the Circle in the Square theatre. One of the smallest Broadway theaters, Circle in the Square has only 775 seats, which will probably sell out nightly, due to Jackman. In addition, there’ll be at least 40 seats a night priced at only $35, making it more accessible. Sonia Friedman, Broadway producer for “The River,” understands that the smaller theatre and cheaper ticket prices limit the financial success of the play. She says, “I have seen plays and stars in theaters that are too big. It’s my job to protect Jez’s play. We could have easily gone to a 1,000-seat theater, but the work is too delicate. You need to feel you can touch the characters. You need to see the whites of their eyes. I know it sounds weird, but it’s the truth.”

“The River” will be Hugh’s fourth time on Broadway; previously he’s appeared in “A Steady Rain,” “The Boy From Oz,” and in 2011, a special concert entitled “Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway.” Jackman won the Tony Award from “The Boy From Oz” back in 2003, and returns to the Tonys again this summer as the award show’s host on June 8th. On hosting the awards, Jackman says, “I’ve done it three times, and for me it’s one of the best shows out there. It is one of the most accepting, generous audiences you can ever get; I never take for granted how lucky I am to be embraced by that community.”

I am so excited for Hugh Jackman to host the Tony's like you don't even know.

— Maggie Jelcin (@SwagMags618) May 10, 2014

In the meantime, we can catch Hugh in X-Men: Days of Future Past when it opens in theaters on May 23rd. Hugh reprises his famous role as Wolverine, but don’t expect his X-Men character to cross over onto the Tony stage: “I’m not sure Fox will be thrilled if Wolverine came out singing and dancing.”

Image via Wikimedia Commons