Samuel L. Jackson to play Martin Luther King Jr. in Broadway debut

(CBS) - Samuel L. Jackson will make his Broadway debut this fall, starring as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Katori Hall's "The Mountaintop."

The play, which recounts the night before the civil rights leader's assassination, is set to begin performances on Sept. 22 before officially opening Oct. 13 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, according to press statement obtained by Playbill.

Pictures: Samuel L. Jackson
Pictures: From screen to stage

Jackson, 62, will not be co-starring alongside Halle Berry, who was attached to play the role of Camae, a maid at the Lorraine Motel.  She was forced to pull out "due to child custody issues."

"The Mountaintop," which first opened in London in 2009 and won an Olivier award for best new play, will be directed by Kenny Leon ("Fences," "Raisin in the Sun").

Jackson joins a bevy of Hollywood stars who have either recently made their live stage debut or soon will. They  include Christie Brinkley, Chris Rock, Robin Wright, Ben Stiller, and Kiefer Sutherland.