Academy-award nominated actor and former sexiest man alive Bradley Cooper may be nearly unrecognizable in his next performance. He will leave his typical big-screen roles for the stage, temporarily in a revival of "The Elephant Man" on Broadway.

The script is a 1977 play written by Bernard Pomerance about the true story of Joseph Carey Merrick, Cooper's character, a man with unusual physical deformities who became a star in a traveling freak show. In Pomerance's version of the 19th century British man's life, Merrick is cared for by Dr. Treves, played by Alessandro Nivola who was in "American Hustle" along with Cooper. Treves introduces Merrick to actress Mrs. Kendal, played by Patricia Clarkson, who is touched by Merrick's kind heart. But his two friends struggle to protect him from a sometimes cruel world.

Pomerance's Tony-winning version is one of many retellings of Merrick's curious story. Multiple books have been written about him, including one misnaming him John, by none other than the very Dr. Frederick Treves that treated him. There was also a 1980 film by David Lynch starring John Hurt in very extreme prosthetics.

"The Elephant Man," directed by Tony-nominated director Scott Ellis will begin previews on Nov. 7 at the Booth Theater and make a 14-week Broadway run.

In an appearance on "The Tonight Show" to promote the production, he told Jimmy Fallon that he had gone as far in research for his character as to even examine Merrick's skeleton. He has also performed on stage before, when he supported Julia Roberts in "Three Days of Rain."

Cooper's take on the role is milder than other versions of Merrick, according to the New York Times' Alexandra Jacobs. She said this role is a serious move for Cooper, "a scoop of earth following his gradual but precipitous soar into the showbiz stratosphere, with its thinner, giddy-making air."