Ewan McGregor is gearing up make his Broadway debut, it was announced on Thursday. The Trainspotting actor will star in a revival of Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing at American Airlines theatre next year. McGregor will play Henry, a glib and unhappily married playwright, in the Roundabout Theatre Company production, which will run from 2 October 2014 until the following January.

It is a role – and, indeed, a play – with serious calibre on Broadway. Stoppard's drama has been produced twice before on Broadway, picking up Tony awards for best new play and best revival. Both productions delivered best actor and actress wins for its leads, with Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons scooping Tonys in 1984 and Stephen Dillane and Jennifer Ehle following in their footsteps in 2000, after the Donmar Warehouse revival transferred to New York.

McGregor has had a single major nomination for his stage work. In 2006, he was put forward for an Olivier award for his performance as Sky Masterson in the West End revival of Guys and Dolls. Three years later at Donmar Warehouse, he played Iago opposite Chiwetel Ejiofor (now appearing on screen in 12 Years a Slave), who scooped best actor at the Oliviers, while McGregor missed out.

However, he will no doubt be hoping for success in 2015, not least because the production will be directed by Sam Gold, one of the most hotly rated young directors in the US. Gold, who made his Broadway debut in 2011 in Theresa Rebeck's Seminar (starring Alan Rickman), has received enormous acclaim for his productions of Annie Baker's plays, including Circle Mirror Transformation, The Flick and an adaptation of Uncle Vanya.

McGregor's co-star, to play the role of his wife Charlotte, has not yet been announced. The role was originaally played by Felicity Kendal in London, who starred opposite Roger Rees.