Tatiana Maslany & Bryan Cranston

Tatiana Maslany to join Bryan Cranston in Network and new venue announced

Tatina Maslany is set to play Diane Christensen in the hit play which now moves to the Belasco Theatre.

Tom Millward
Tom Millward

Producers of the upcoming Broadway transfer of Network, adapted by Tony and Olivier Award winner Lee Hall and based on the Academy Award-winning film by Paddy Chayefsky, have announced that Emmy Award winner Tatiana Maslany has been cast in the role of Diana Christensen and is set to make her Broadway debut with the production. The role was originated at London's National Theatre by "Downton Abbey" star Michelle Dockery.

Ms. Maslany recently concluded her off-Broadway debut engagement in Second Stage Theater's New York premiere of Mary Page Marlowe by Tracy Letts. She is perhaps best known for her starring role in the hit BBC America series "Orphan Black," earning a Golden Globe nomination in 2014, winning an Emmy Award in 2016 and receiving two further Emmy nominations in 2015 and 2018.

In addition, following the early closure notice for the Broadway premiere of Gettin' The Band Back Together, the production has now switched venues and will open at the Belasco Theatre on Broadway (instead of the Cort Theatre).

As previously announced, Tony, Olivier, Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Bryan Cranston is set to reprise his Olivier Award-winning performance as Howard Beale in the National Theatre production of Network, beginning previews on November 10, 2018, ahead of an official opening on December 6 and a strictly limited 18-week engagement.

The production is once again directed by Tony and Olivier Award winner Ivo van Hove and features scenic and lighting design by his longtime collaborator Jan Versweyveld. The creative team also features costume design by An D'Huys, video design by Tal Yarden, and original music & sound design by Olivier Award nominee Eric Sleichim.

Producers of the Broadway transfer previously commented: "We are excited as hell to bring Ivo van Hove's brilliantly innovative and electrifying production of Network to Broadway this fall. The incomparable Bryan Cranston brings Howard Beale to brilliant life and we are so thrilled for American audiences to have the opportunity to experience his masterful performance and this spectacular new play."

Synopsis: "Howard Beale, news anchor-man, isn't pulling in the viewers. In his final broadcast he unravels live on screen. But when ratings soar, the network seizes on their newfound populist prophet, and Howard becomes the biggest thing on TV. Network depicts a media landscape where opinion trumps fact. Hilarious and hair-raising by turns, the iconic film by Paddy Chayefsky won four Academy Awards in 1976."

Network is produced on Broadway by David Binder, the National Theatre, Patrick Myles, David Luff, Ros Povey and Lee Menzies.

Additional casting will be announced shortly.

Originally published on

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