Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch will play Richard III in the BBC's second series of Shakespeare's History plays.
The BBC Two production comes from the same team as the award-winning Hollow Crown series and will be directed by Dominic Cooke.
Cumberbatch said he "can't wait... to bring this complex, funny and dangerous character to life for the BBC".
His Sherlock co-star Martin Freeman will play the same role in London's West End later this year.
Freeman, who plays Dr John Watson in the BBC One drama, will take to the stage at Trafalgar Studios in the play, directed by Jamie Lloyd, .
Lloyd directed the theatre's production of Macbeth last year, starring James McAvoy.
BBC Two's new adaptation of the Shakespeare play will also mark the TV debut of director Cooke - a former artistic director of the Royal Court theatre.
Executive producer, Pippa Harris, said: "Neal Street Productions worked with Benedict on both Stuart: A Life Backwards for the BBC and the film Starter For Ten. His range and dexterity as an actor make him the perfect choice to bring one of Shakespeare's towering characters to television."
Ben Stephenson, the controller BBC Drama, described Cumberbatch as "one of the world's most brilliant and in-demand actors".
The 37-year-old will also star in William Shakespeare's classic tragedy Hamlet at London's Barbican Theatre in August next year.
The BBC Two production comes from the same team as the award-winning Hollow Crown series and will be directed by Dominic Cooke.
Cumberbatch said he "can't wait... to bring this complex, funny and dangerous character to life for the BBC".
His Sherlock co-star Martin Freeman will play the same role in London's West End later this year.
Freeman, who plays Dr John Watson in the BBC One drama, will take to the stage at Trafalgar Studios in the play, directed by Jamie Lloyd, .
Lloyd directed the theatre's production of Macbeth last year, starring James McAvoy.
BBC Two's new adaptation of the Shakespeare play will also mark the TV debut of director Cooke - a former artistic director of the Royal Court theatre.
Executive producer, Pippa Harris, said: "Neal Street Productions worked with Benedict on both Stuart: A Life Backwards for the BBC and the film Starter For Ten. His range and dexterity as an actor make him the perfect choice to bring one of Shakespeare's towering characters to television."
Ben Stephenson, the controller BBC Drama, described Cumberbatch as "one of the world's most brilliant and in-demand actors".
The 37-year-old will also star in William Shakespeare's classic tragedy Hamlet at London's Barbican Theatre in August next year.
Source:
Good catch for Richard III, I wonder who will be playing Henry VI in the previous two films. Hope these do as well as the Hollow Crown did :)
ReplyDeleteI really don't know what the deal with Cumberbatch is ? He's great on Sherlock but proved a lack of range in Star Trek: Into Darkness. He sure is a good actor but...not brilliant. I know this sounds like I'm bashing him, don't get me wrong though: I'm a fan but I hate it when people absolutely overstate an actors capability. It sets wrong expectations and puts the actor more under fire
ReplyDeleteI'll watch anything if his in it, so bring it on! LOL
ReplyDeleteHe will do a great job :)
ReplyDeleteLOVE HIM! Sherlock is awesome and he does a great job on that show so it will be nice to see him in something else.
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