Originally published February 28, 2017. Updated April 15, 2018.
Benedict Cumberbatch has a lot going on right now as he prepares to join the Avengers in Avengers: Infinity War, but the actor has now added another project to his busy schedule. Deadline reports that he has joined Showtime’s Melrose, a limited series which he will also executive produce for the network.
The series will run for a total of five episodes and is based on author Edward St. Aubyn’s semi-autobiographical novels about literary character Patrick Melrose. It follows Melrose’s life through as he suffers through abusive family, substance addiction and recovery through the 60s, 80s and 2000s. The series consists of the books Never Mind, Bad News, Some Hope, Mother’s Milk and At Last with each episode dedicated to one of the novels. David Nichols will write all five episodes of the mini-series.
Cumberbatch put out a brief statement regarding the project, saying: “We have been huge fans of these books for many years and David Nicholls’ adaptations are extraordinary,” alongside Adam Ackland of Cumberbatch’s SunnyMarch TV.
Production will begin in August with filming taking place in New York, London and South of France.
