You’ve seen him as Marvel’s Doctor Strange and watched as he circled the jaws of depression for Patrick Melrose, but for his latest gig, Benedict Cumberbatch is about to be swept up Brexit. And we now have our first look at the Infinity War star in character as a Leave campaigner.
Coming to us by way of Channel 4, Cumberbatch has been cast in the role of Dominic Cummings, the leading strategist and Campaign Director of Vote Leave, for a one-off drama series set to explore the behind-the-scenes goings-on of Brexit, the inescapable term given to the impending withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
The vote was cast in the summer of 2016, when just over half of the UK’s population (51.9%) voted to leave the EU, setting in motion a chain of events that are still being felt to this day – and, frankly, will continue to shape the country’s future in the years to come.
Brexit – the TV show, not the UK’s impending departure – is written by the award-winning James Graham and directed by Black Mirror‘s Toby Haynes. It also stars Skyfall‘s Rory Kinnear as Craig Oliver, the then-Prime Minister David Cameron’s Director of Communications, and John Heffernan of The Crown. He’ll be playing Matthew Elliott, political lobbyist and Chief Executive of Vote Leave.
Filming on Brexit has already begun, and Graham is excited – if a little nervous – to shed light on the Leave and Remain campaigns, and how they fought to sway public opinion in their favor.
Via Digital Spy:
I’m so excited – not to mention a little nervous – to have this chance to try and get under the skin of what happened during that historic vote. I hope by going behind-the-scenes of the campaign, we’re able to interrogate the consequences of what happened during these eight weeks that have changed the country forever. To work with this incredible team and Channel 4 to bring this story to life on screen is a real honor.
Details of Brexit‘s release window remain locked up in the Houses of Parliament, but we’ll be keeping a close eye on what may well be one of Benedict Cumberbatch’s more enthralling TV roles since Sherlock.