Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch has officially signed on for the leading role in Studiocanal’s upcoming film adaptation of War Magician, based on David Fisher’s World War II drama novel of the same, with Jurassic World‘s Colin Trevorrow set to helm, according to Deadline.
RELATED: Benedict Cumberbatch Praises Doctor Strange 2 Director Sam Raimi
Cumberbatch is no stranger to war dramas as he previously appeared in Steven Spielberg’s 2011 War Horse, 2014’s The Imitation Game and Sam Mendes’ acclaimed film 1917. He has also gained worldwide recognition for his role as Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which he will reprise in Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, currently in production in the UK, and as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective Sherlock Holmes in the eponymous BBC series.
War Magician will be based on the real-life story of Jasper Maskelyne, a famous British stage magician in the 1930s who was also known for his contributions in the British military during World War II. Trevorrow’s take on the material features an international “magic gang” from Africa, Europe and the Middle East who conspired with Maskelyne and a female military intelligence officer to defeat the Nazis.
Pick up a copy of the novel here!
The film is being adapted by E. Nicholas Mariani from the earlier drafts written by Richard Cordiner and Gary Whitta. On top of directing, Trevorrow is also producing through his Metronome Films banner. It will also be produced by Cumberbatch, Leah Clark and Adam Ackland through their SunnyMarch films.
RELATED: Colin Trevorrow: “Jurassic World: Dominion Will Be a Culmination of the Entire Franchise”
Landscape Entertainment’s Bob Cooper, Lonetree’s Tony Eldridge and Bluestone’s Richard Saperstein are also set as producers. Studiocanal’s Ron Halpern and Shana Eddy along with Metronome’s Jeff Gernert and Annys Hamilton are tasked to oversee the project.
(Photo Credits: Getty Images)
