I only just now remembered that Mrs. Benedict Cumberbatch is expecting another baby. Isn’t that weird, that I had forgotten about it? Sophie Hunter debuted her second baby bump last fall, as Benedict was promoting Doctor Strange. I think I forgot about it because after his Strange promotion, Benedict has barely been seen. He only did a few appearances and interviews to promote Sherlock’s Season 4 (which suuucked) and he didn’t make any appearances at any of the awards shows, not even the BAFTAs. So, yeah, I forgot about him and I forgot about Sophie Hunterbatch’s second alien-lizard-baby. What has Bendy been up to? Apparently, he’s coming back to television in a series called Melrose and NO IT IS NOT BASED ON MELROSE PLACE. How amazing would it be to have a Bendy-led Melrose Place reboot?
Benedict Cumberbatch can’t stay away from TV for long. Fresh off of a three-part return to BBC favorite Sherlock and news of a PBS telepic, the Oscar-nominated actor is teaming with Showtime for a five-part limited series. Cumberbatch will star in and executive produce Melrose, a mini based on the fictional works of author and journalist Edward St. Aubyn. He’ll play the titular character, Patrick Melrose, whose been the focus of five novels — including the the 2006 Man Booker Prize-winning Mother’s Milk.
It’s another international matchup for Showtime. The stateside pay cable network is producing the series with Sky Atlantic, a second collaboration after the upcoming John Ridley and Idris Elba effort Guerrilla. One Day author and screenwriter David Nicholls is set to adapt all five installments, with each episode focusing on a different one of St. Aubyn’s Melrose books. The character is described as an aristocratic and outrageously funny playboy struggling with considerable parent issues.
“We are delighted to be part of this incredible series,” said Cumberbatch and Adam Ackland, who will produce under their SunnyMarch shingle. “We have been huge fans of these books for many years, and David Nicholls’ adaptations are extraordinary.”
Word has it that Cumberbatch and company are looking for an auteur-type director to helm each of the five installments, as has been in fashion since Cary Fukunaga’s celebrated work on HBO’s original outing of True Detective. Showtime is already doing that with David Lynch on Twin Peaks and, to a certain extent, Guerrilla (Ridley split directing duty on that project with Luther helmer Sam Miller).
Well, it sounds like they’ve already got the scripts, so I would imagine filming will take place this year, and it sounds like they’ll be filming in Britain, so Bendy will be close to home with his wife and babies. It’s quite common for new actor parents to embrace the steadiness of television gigs, which is why it’s strange to me that Benedict seems to not really give a sh-t about Sherlock at this point. Granted, Sherlock’s quality has fallen off a cliff, but you would think he would push to keep making the show. I guess he’s interested in doing other TV projects though. As for the character – “an aristocratic and outrageously funny playboy struggling with considerable parent issues” – seems like a good fit for Bendy.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I saw his Dad today, in Kensington. He is a very distinguished looking gentleman…Unlike Bendy.
Horrible books. Like Martin Amis without the actual funny.
This! I really couldn’t stomach them at all. As if MC Beaton was channeling Lemony Snicket adult-seriously, with a This Young Man protagonist. Blecch.
Didn’t he mention this project a few years ago? I seem to remember him saying he was going to play this character. Or maybe he just wanted to.
Guess it really does take a while for projects to get off the ground.
(I first thought it was going to be about Melrose Place. That would’ve been hilarious)
“an aristocratic and outrageously funny playboy struggling with considerable parent issues”
Some actors seek to stretch themselves, others stick to the same old same old.
Yes, but LEGS did try for this part, non? I won’t have it otherwise!
I’m bored with Benny the Bouncer. I’m also bored with the whole dual US/UK financing thing because it makes the class gap here even worse than it already is.
He probably did. Although he does seem to try for a broader range of characters.
Which is weird because that’s not the character! AT ALL! He’s a very very bitter man who went through hell in the hands of an abusive father. He does f*ck around but nowhere is he a playboy. He’s an a**hole to boot too. I guess Bendy is living vicariously through the characters he plays..
To be fair, that description is coming from an old book review. I don’t see the character as a playboy myself, and this is not quite the type of character he normally plays either.
I will say If he’s trying to move his production company forward, this is a smart move. His company also got the rights to a “A Child in Time,” which I loved.
outrageously funny playboy struggling
with considerable parent issues.- you lost me at playboy. -_-
It sounds like a good decision for him, personally and professionally.
I’m sick of him but I’m also very glad we seem to have lost the crazies of two years ago (you know, the ‘Sophie is an escort with a pillow baby that he only married for an Oscar’ types).
If we really must have a posh Brit actor shoved in our faces, I’d much rather have Eddie Redmayne. He has nice cheekbones and (so far) isn’t obnoxious.
ITA – i used to like him but was put off when he pulled all that PR shenanigans for his Oscar campaign. Its got to the point that I won’t watch anything he’s in as all i can see is his smug posh boy persona but then again that seems to be the only character that he can play well.
Bendy and Piddles try hardiness is exhausting -shame that they let it overshadow their work.
Oh yes, I love Eddie and Dan Stevens is lovely too.
I agree, I love Eddie Redmayne. He’s got what Cumberbatch and Hiddleston don’t have – an Oscar and a Harry Potter franchise. And all fairly quietly. You go, Eddie.
There was nothing quiet about Redmayne’s Oscar campaign LOL.
I agree, Jules, but if you are predisposed to like Eddie, then you think he was quiet and classy. If you are predisposed to dislike Benedict, then you think his excitement over impending fatherhood was just OTT campaigning. SMH
Bendanlick Cumbersnatch!
“an aristocratic and outrageously funny playboy struggling with considerable parent issues” – You don’t say?