For an indecisive prince, he certainly seems to be mounting a concerted assault on the capital’s hearts, minds and wallets. The Young Vic — having watched Trevor Nunn’s recent production with young Ben Whishaw do good business down the road at the Old Vic — has tentatively suggested the idea of a staging to showcase Jude Law. There is also the Royal Shakespeare production starring Toby Stephens, which is on its way to the Albery Theatre. Law last appeared at the Young Vic when he starred in Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. The actor, whose screen-profile is sky-high thanks to movies like “A.I.” and “Cold Mountain” — with “Alfie” and a film of Patrick Marber’s play “Closer” in post-production — is clearly keen to make regular returns to the stage. Law's Natural Nylon production company, formed with great fanfare with fellow thespians Ewan McGregor, Johnny Lee Miller, Sean Pertwee and Sadie Frost (Law’s then-wife), only ever presented the Faustus before folding in early 2003.

According to Variety, the Law Hamlet — if it happens — is at least 18 months away, and is likely to be directed by Young Vic Artistic Director David Lan, who also directed Faustus. A great fan of the play, Law has seen it many times onstage, numbering among his Danes those by Daniel Day-Lewis, Mark Rylance and Whishaw.