Broadway is heating up for a high-stakes revival of one of cinema’s most gripping true-life stories. Dog Day Afternoon, the new stage adaptation of Sidney Lumet’s iconic 1975 film, is set to begin previews on March 10, 2026, with an official opening on March 30 at the August Wilson Theatre. The limited engagement promises to bring a fresh theatrical perspective to the infamous Brooklyn bank robbery that captivated a nation.
The production is directed by two-time Olivier Award winner Rupert Goold (King Charles III) and adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis (Between Riverside and Crazy). The creative team aims to translate the tension, humor, and humanity of the original film into a live theatrical experience that speaks to both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
Jon Bernthal, known for his intense performances in The Bear and The Walking Dead, will make his Broadway debut as Sonny Amato, the desperate bank robber whose actions spark nationwide attention. Ebon Moss-Bachrach, a two-time Emmy winner (The Bear, The Fantastic Four: First Steps), takes on the role of Sal DeSilva, Sonny’s loyal friend and partner in crime. Together, they navigate a story that is as heart-wrenching as it is suspenseful, bringing new depth to characters immortalized by Al Pacino and John Cazale in Lumet’s classic film.
Set against the sweltering summer of 1972 in New York City, the story unfolds as a Brooklyn bank robbery goes horribly wrong. Amid the backdrop of the Vietnam War, Watergate, and social unrest, Sonny’s desperate attempt to steal money to pay for his partner’s gender-affirming surgery spirals into a chaotic hostage situation. Media helicopters swarm the streets, police strategize outside, and a city watches in awe, reflecting the film’s blend of crime thriller, dark comedy, and social commentary.
Guirgis’s adaptation is rooted in reality. The 1975 movie was based on a Life magazine article, “The Boys in the Bank,” by P.F. Kluge and Thomas Moore, chronicling the true 1972 robbery led by John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile. Guirgis’s work is expected to stay faithful to these real-life events while leveraging the immediacy of live theater to heighten tension and emotional impact.
The Broadway production promises to balance the story’s suspense with human drama, exploring themes of desperation, loyalty, and the ways ordinary people respond to extraordinary circumstances. In the original film, Sonny’s motivations reveal a deeply personal and social layer beneath the public spectacle—an aspect the stage production aims to capture with nuance.
Producers Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, along with executives Mark Kaufman, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, and Patrick Catullo, announced the dates and venue this week, promising an engaging theatrical experience for audiences. Additional casting and the full creative team are expected to be revealed in the coming months.
With Bernthal and Moss-Bachrach taking on these challenging roles, Dog Day Afternoon is poised to be a must-see Broadway event in 2026. The combination of a legendary true story, top-tier talent, and a masterful adaptation ensures that theatergoers will experience the thrill, chaos, and human complexity that made the original film an enduring classic.
Step into 1972 Brooklyn, where every moment counts—and every second is loaded with tension, heartbreak, and the enduring question: how far would you go for love, loyalty, and justice?