His new show Patrick Melrose may have just kicked off on Sky Atlantic, but Benedict Cumberbatch already has plans for another drama for the small screen. This show will take on the contentious subject of the Bexit vote in the UK and is set to air as Britain leaves the European Union next March.
The 120-minute one-off drama will be written by James Graham, who wrote the successful stage play The Vote which was set on the night of the general election vote and starred Mark Gatiss and Judi Dench.
Cumberbatch is set to play Dominic Cummings, the leading strategist and campaign director of the Vote Leave movement.
"I am particularly pleased to commission James Graham’s hard-hitting and compulsive drama on how the Brexit vote was won with Benedict Cumberbatch in a new role," Channel 4’s new programming boss, Ian Katz, said at a Channel 4 event in London, Wednesday.
"It will be broadcast just ahead of our formal [exit] from the EU in March, assuming that we actually get around to leaving."
While 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 8 weeks that have changed the country forever."
Beth Willis, head of drama at Channel 4, added: "James’ whip smart, funny and insightful writing is a breath of fresh air. We are so thrilled that he and the genius that is Benedict Cumberbatch feel Channel 4 is the right home for it – Brexit is exactly the kind of explosive and illuminating drama we want to have on the channel."
Production is set to begin later this year.
