Christine Lahti, Jimmy Smits among new cast for Broadway's 'God of Carnage'

One of the biggest mysteries on Broadway this week has been: Who will replace the original cast of Yasmina Reza's Tony-winning "God of Carnage"?

It's hard to top the star power -- and the potent stage chemistry -- of the current cast, which features Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini and Tony winner Marcia Gay Harden. Their last day is set for Nov. 15.

Today, producers of the critically acclaimed comedy announced their new cast. Christine Lahti, Jimmy Smits, Annie Potts and Ken Stott will step into the play about two sets of parents who come together when their children get into a playground fight.

Chances are you're already familiar with the first three actors, each having already made a mark in movies and television. Stott, a British actor, starred in the original London production of "God of Carnage" in 2008.

Lahti will take the role of Veronica played by Harden while Stott will take the role of her husband, Michael, played by Gandolfini.

Smits and Potts will take the roles of Alan and Annette, played by Daniels and Davis.

The original cast recently returned to the show after a nearly monthlong summer hiatus during which the production temporarily shut down.

"God of Carnage" opened on Broadway on March 22. It won Tony Awards for play, direction (Matthew Warchus) and lead actress (Harden).

Times theater critic Charles McNulty wrote in his review that the production may have the "feel of a play in which characters have no choice but to fall in line with their playwright’s nihilistic manipulations, but with actors this ferociously robust, human nature seems to have its own incorrigible agenda."

-- David Ng

Photo: Christine Lahti. Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Overture