“I was not onboard”: Benedict Cumberbatch Admitted Pursuing $234M Film as Warner Bros Only Wanted Leonardo DiCaprio for Leading Role
Benedict Cumberbatch enjoys a huge fandom after giving us MCU’s Doctor Strange. Besides that, the actor also won hearts by appearing in a lead role in BBC’s crime drama series, Sherlock.
Despite being one of the finest actors in the industry, he had to face a lot of difficulties to get a role in the film, The Imitation Game. Undoubtedly, when given an opportunity, he made the most of it by giving us an impeccable reel version of the brains behind the invention of modern computers, Alan Turing.
In a recent interview, Cumberbatch opened up about the struggle he faced before he was brought on board officially by the director and the production studio of the Oscar-winning film.
Benedict Cumberbatch was not the first choice for the $234M Film The Imitation Game
Even though Benedict Cumberbatch portrayed the role of the genius mathematician Alan Turing miraculously, he was never the one who was chosen to portray the character initially. His acting was so real that we never felt that he was just playing the role on screen. However, we couldn’t believe it when in an interview, Cumberbatch disclosed that he was never the choice for the 2014s film, The Imitation Game. Well, but it’s true, Warner Bros. was eyeing Titanic’s Jack, i.e., Leonardo DiCaprio, for playing Turing in the film.
Cumberbatch also stated that he was shooting for another project when he overheard the script of The Imitation Game, and that was when he made up his mind to be a part of the film. He also added that he was never onboard for this film, but since the day he learned about the script, he couldn’t resist thinking of it.
Hoping to “serve his legacy to a broader audience,” Cumberbatch then persistently pursued the Turing role while it was attached to another actor. “I was not onboard, but I was onboard with the idea of being onboard. In my head, I was already onboard!”
Benedict Cumberbatch’s acting won several awards for the film
Cumberbatch pushed too much to mold himself into the character, so it’s evident seeing the film received several awards, including the People’s Choice Award at the 39th Film Festival in Toronto. The Imitation Game also received numerous nominations, including the Oscars.
Well, we can’t say what the scenario would be like if the film starred its original choice, Leonardo DiCaprio, but it would be evident to say that giving the opportunity to Benedict Cumberbatch wasn’t a wrong decision. The actor brought the character to life on the screens brilliantly, and we can proudly say that after seeing him as Turing, we can’t think of anyone else playing the role better than him.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
