The National Theatre in London is set to "theatrically explode" in 2026, unveiling a season that reads more like a Hollywood roll call than a typical West End lineup.

Under the bold new artistic direction of Indhu Rubasingham, the institution has pulled off a casting coup. Two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and Killing Eve icon Sandra Oh will headline a season designed to shatter box office records and artistic boundaries.

The Lineup

Rubasingham, the first woman and person of colour to lead the NT, is making her mark with "bold stories in new ways."

• Electra / Persona: Blanchett reunites with Nina Hoss in a daring experimental fusion of Sophocles’ tragedy and Ingmar Bergman’s psychological film. It promises to be a visceral exploration of the female psyche.
• The Misanthrope: Sandra Oh makes her NT debut in a modern adaptation of Molière’s satire, directed by Rubasingham herself.
• The Story: British star Letitia Wright (Black Panther) leads a newsroom thriller that feels timely in an era of fake news.

Art vs Celebrity

While the box office will undoubtedly ring, critics are already sharpening their knives over "star-casting." Is this a desperate bid for relevance and revenue, or a genuine artistic evolution? Rubasingham remains unapologetic. Her mission is to put "bums on seats" while challenging the intellect. With Blanchett and Oh on the marquee, she has likely guaranteed the former; the latter remains to be seen when the curtain rises.