( EW.com ) -- If you 've ever had the burning desire to see one of the hottest film stars of the moment bray , `` I am not an animal ! '' you 're in luck . Bradley Cooper , who just received his second Oscar nomination in as many years for his fussy , conflicted G-man in David O. Russell 's American Hustle , will be returning to Broadway after an eight-year absence , the actor 's reps tell EW . ( His last appearance was opposite Julia Roberts and Paul Rudd in 2006â€²s Three Days of Rain , for which he got very good notices . ) EW : See full stage coverage . The red-hot actor will headline a revival of Bernard Pomerance 's The Elephant Man , playing John Merrick , the severely deformed , soulful figure memorably embodied on film in David Lynch 's 1980 film version by John Hurt . The play , unlike the film , has the leading actor suggest deformity through physicality without the aid of makeup or prosthetics , so you 'll get to see Cooper in all his golden-boy glory , just like in the large pic right here , which highlights Mr. Cooper 's 2012 performance in the play at the Williamstown Theatre Festival . This marks the second Broadway revival of Pomerance 's Tony-winning play , after a 2002 production starring Billy Crudup and Kate Burton , who were both nominated for Tonys for their work . EW : Bradley Cooper , Patricia Clarkson join 'The Elephant Man ' in Williamstown . No word yet on whether Patricia Clarkson ( who played Mrs. Kendal , the actress who befriends Merrick ) or Alessandro Nivola ( who played Dr. Treves , and also happens to costar in Hustle with Cooper ) will rejoin People 's former Sexiest Man Alive for the Broadway run , but further details are promised at a later date . See the original story at EW.com . CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved .
Bradley Cooper is returning to Broadway after 20 years . He last appeared opposite Julia Roberts in ` ` Three Days of Summer '' This will be the second revival of the play .