The legendary John Steinbeck novel, Of Mice and Men doesn’t exactly need translating to a younger audience, considering most study it in English lessons across the Western World, but putting a Hollywood golden boy and comedy funster on a Broadway adaptation of it certainly seems like something to get excited about.

James FrancoJames Franco will play Of Mice and Men's George

It doesn’t take a genius to work out who’s playing whom, but we’ll spell it out anyway. Franco will take on the role of George, an aspirational man during the dilapidated period of the great depression. Quick-witted and confident, George is always thinking of ways to change his own situation.

Accompanying George in this great American novel is the mentally disabled Lennie – who doesn’t share his partner’s alacrity and speed of thought. He’s lovable though, and gives love freely, and the gentle giant would do anything to protect those he holds close. O’Dowd will play him.

There’s been no word on who else will fill the story’s iconic roles, like Slim, Candy, Curley and Curley’s Wife, and considering the star names announced to lead the production, we’d predict a mixture of rising stars and unknowns to fill up the roles; unless they really want to go big.

And talking of going big, the appointment of Tony Award-winner Anna D. Shapir as director is as big as they come. She was lauded for her directing August: Osage Country, which has recently been made into a film starring Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep.

Chris O'DowdWhile Chris O'Dowd adopts Lennie

The revival is expected to run through July 27 at the Longacre Theatre in New York. David Binder, Kate Lear, Darren Bagert, Adam Zotovich, Barbara Whitman and Latitude Link all produce. 101 Productions is on board as executive producer. The production hasn’t been seen on Broadway since 1974.