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David Tennant has signed up to star in a new BBC radio adaptation of Macbeth, reports BBC Media Centre.
Tennant has previously starred in stage productions of classic William Shakespeare plays including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Richard II, but this will be the first time he has taken on Macbeth's iconic title role.
BBC Radio 4's Alison Hindell released a statement, saying, "Macbeth is a part of great significance for any actor, but particularly so for Scottish players. As David Tennant makes a welcome return to Radio 4 audio drama, we look forward to this performance with great anticipation."
He follows in the footsteps of fellow Scots including James McAvoy and Alan Cumming in portraying Macbeth, a brave and revered Scottish warrior who becomes so consumed by his own ambition that he commits an unspeakable crime. Tennant's co-stars in the new BBC Radio 4 adaptation will include Daniela Nardini as Lady Macbeth, Alec Newman as Macduff and Naana Agyei-Ampadu as Lady Macduff.
Macbeth will air on BBC Radio 4 in two parts. The first on April 23, followed by the second on April 24. In the meantime, he may well be referring to his latest assignment as "the Scottish play" because actors are notoriously superstitious about saying its real name out loud. The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has some information on this longstanding superstition here.
To get ready for his go as Macbeth, here's a peek at Tennant's flair for Shakespearean dialog in this clip from an RSC production of Hamlet.

Are you excited to hear David Tennant as Macbeth?