Benedict Cumberbatch to star in Channel 4's political drama 'Brexit'
Benedict Cumberbatch has already had an eventful 2018. The 'Sherlock' star has already appeared in Marvel's supremely successful 'Avengers: Infinity War,' and following which he scored the lead role in Showtime's 'Patrick Melrose,' which is based on Edward St. Aubyn's semi-autobiographical pentalogy, and is now set to star in Channel 4's one-off Brexit drama.
Tentatively titled 'Brexit,' the two-hour show will cover the events of 2016 that culminated in the people of Great Britain voting for an exit from the European Union during the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum. According to Hollywood Reporter, Cumberbatch will play the role of Dominic Cummings, a British political advisor and strategist who served as the campaign director of Vote Leave.
Channel 4 termed the project as an 'utterly timely and compelling new political thriller from Olivier- and Royal Television Society-winning screenwriter James Graham (Quiz, Ink, This House, The Vote)' and said that the show would 'unpack the anatomy of the historic, high-stakes campaign that won the hearts and minds of the British people.'
'Brexit' will also explore the myriad tactics employed to swing one of the most surprising referendum results in living memory, and will be directed by Toby Haynes, who is notable for his work on shows such as 'Doctor Who,' 'Sherlock Holmes,' 'Black Mirror,' 'Being Human,' and 'Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.'
Speaking about his latest venture, Graham said: "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 onscreen is a real honor."
It will air early next year, shortly before Britain leaves the EU in March and will partly be based on the books written by Sunday Times political editor, Tim Shipman and the former Downing Street director of communications Craig Oliver.
Channel 4 insists that the drama would 'not be an analysis of who was right and wrong, but rather the story of how it happened, and why.' Cumberbatch, however, has been a vocal critic of the campaign, even signing a letter saying Brexit would 'damage' the creative industry.