Benedict Cumberbatch Has A New Project

From Sherlock, to the Marvel franchise, to noteworthy roles in blockbuster films, you would think Benedict Cumberbatch's dance card would be full. But, the beloved British star just signed on for yet another project. Apparently, Cumberbatch will star in The Child In Time, a 90-minute retelling of Ian McEwan’s 1987 novel of the same name for BBC One and Masterpiece. It's far from the first time the actor has been in an adaptation of a McEwan novel, and the respect the actor and writer have for one another is absolutely beautiful.

According to TVLine, Cumberbatch will executive produce and star as Stephen Lewis, a children's book author whose daughter goes missing. The film explore how Lewis' marriage is effected following the loss of child and the couple's diverging paths through grief.

The actor Cumberbatch discussed his relationship to the work in a statement released by Deadline:

I read the novel years ago and it stayed with me — profound, beautiful and very moving... Only Ian McEwan could write about loss with such telling honesty. We’re very excited to have Stephen Butchard’s subtle and brilliant adaptation, and in Julian Farino we have an extraordinary director who delivers emotional truth. I’m so proud The Child In Time will be the first drama produced by SunnyMarch TV.

Of course, fans will remember that Cumberbatch also starred as Paul Marshall, alongside Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, and Saoirse Ronan, in the 2007 film Atonement, based on McEwan's novel. And, according to the same Deadline piece, McEwan is "thrilled" at Cumberbatch's new project. The author said,

[I'm] thrilled to have my novel in the hands of such a high level creative team. I have fond memories of Benedict playing a brilliant and key part in the movie adaptation of Atonement. Now, it’s a great honor to have this actor of such immense resource, experience and subtlety in the lead role of The Child In Time.

While the project has only just been announced, I already can't wait to see the finished product — especially when two of the big names involved respect each other so much.