Entertainment

Bond and his babe coming to Broadway in ‘Betrayal’

Bond is coming back to Broadway, this time with his better half.

And I don’t mean Blofeld! Daniel Craig, the reigning 007, will star opposite his wife, Rachel Weisz, in a revival of Harold Pinter’s “Betrayal” starting Oct. 1 for just 14 weeks at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.

They will be joined by Rafe Spall (“The Life of Pi”) in Pinter’s heart wrenching tale of adultery.

Mike Nichols, who won his sixth Tony for last year’s “Death of a Salesman,” will direct. The producer is Scott Rudin, or “R.” as he’s soon to be known since, likeM. in the Bond movies, he’s a master chess player behind the scenes.

Craig will star as Robert and Weisz as his wife, Emma. Spall, whose father is celebrated movie actor Timothy Spall (“Secrets and Lies”), will play Robert’s best friend, Jerry, who’s in love with Emma.

Pinter lays out the course of their affair in reverse chronological order, which gives the play an extra fillip of poignancy at the end, when we see how much in love Robert and Emma once were.

Though Craig’s now one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, he likes to keep an oar in the theater. He received strong reviews a few seasons back as a corrupt Chicago cop in “A Steady Rain.” His costar was Hugh Jackman, and their combined box-office clout drove the advance sale past $10million on opening night.

The play was a little dreary, but Craig and Jackman put on the best after show in town when, to raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, they camped it up onstage and auctioned off their sweaty Tshirts, which fetched more than $10,000 a piece.

Weisz is active in the theater as, well, winning raves as Blanche DuBois in “A Street car Named Desire” a few years ago in London. She’s also appeared in “Suddenly, Last Summer” and “Design for Living.”

Nichols was a close friend of Pinter and his wife, Antonia Fraser, but has never directed one of Pinter’s plays. He did, however, direct “The Real Thing,” which was written by Pinter’s rival, Tom Stoppard.

“The Real Thing” also deals with adultery and betrayal. Nichols won a Tony for his staging.

After picking up the Tony last year for “Death of a Salesman,” Nichols, it was whispered in Shubert Alley, was going to retire. He’s 81 and, truth be told, seemed a little frail at the Tony Award ceremony. But associates say he has no intention of resting on his awards—Tonys, Oscars, BAFTAs, Kennedy Center.

Right after “Salesman” closed, R. called him up and said, “What do you want to do next?” Nichols didn’t hesitate: “Pinter.”

“Betrayal” was first produced in New York in 1980, with Raul Julia, Roy Scheider and a sensational Blythe Danner.

David Leveaux directed a well received revival at the Roundabout Theater Company in 2000, with Juliette Binoche, Liev Schreiber and a memorable John Slattery.

The play is said to be based on Pinter’s seven year affair with BBC television presenter Joan Bakewell, now a Labour Party peer. Though Pinter never spoke publicly about the affair, it was an open secret in London theater and media circles.

This fall, New Yorkers can get a double dose of Pinter. Along with “Betrayal,” there’ll be a revival of the cryptic “No Man’s Land” starring Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, probably at the St. James.

Stewart and McKellen will alternate “NoMan’s Land” with Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot.”

Pinter died on Christmas Eve 2008. His last words, as recorded by Fraser in her book “Must You Go?” were: “What are your plans?” Pause. “Generally.”

michael.riedel@nypost.com