McGregor starred in West End musical Guys and Dolls in 2005

The Scottish star will appear opposite Kinky Boots' Chiwetel Ejiofor in the title role, and Kelly Reilly as Desdemona, at the Donmar Warehouse.

Othello will be the final production of the Donmar's current season, running from 4 December till 23 February 2008.

Moulin Rouge! star McGregor proved a box office draw in the West End production of Guys and Dolls in 2005.

The 36-year-old star, whose film credits include the Star Wars prequels and Miss Potter, played the role of Sky Masterson in a production directed by Michael Grandage.

'Exciting culmination'

Grandage, artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse, called the forthcoming production of Othello "an exciting culmination of my first five years as artistic director".

Tickets for the general public will go on sale from 15 October.

Recent critically acclaimed productions at the theatre include Don Juan in Soho, starring Rhys Ifans, and Michael Sheen and Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon, which transferred to Broadway in April.

Ejiofor, best known for his role in Steven Frears' Dirty Pretty Things, last appeared at the Donmar as Nicky Lancaster in The Vortex, Grandage's inaugural production.

Reilly, whose roles include Mrs Henderson Presents, has also performed at the Donmar before, in After Miss Julie.