First Images Of Benedict Cumberbatch In WWII Drama The Imitation Game

Few things are as certain to make Oscar voters prick up their ears as films which tell true tales of wartime heroism. So, this fall, one movie that almost everyone agrees will be a force to be reckoned with on the awards circuit is The Imitation Game, which focuses on British mathematician Alan Turing, who worked to unravel Nazi codes during World War II and was later prosecuted for the then-illegal act of homosexuality. Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Turing, and everything that’s emerged about the film thus far paints it as a must-see. Now, our first look at the Sherlock actor in the title role has arrived.

The two images come courtesy of Entertainment Weekly, who recently spoke with Cumberbatch about the film. Of Turing, the actor said, “He’s an exceptional man,” adding that, “I hope this film does justice to this unsung hero.”

It’s true that Turing was treated in an absolutely appalling way after his homosexuality came to light, so much so that the Queen of England saw fit to grant him a far-too-late posthumous pardon in December of last year. In truth, Turing was a bona fide hero, and his code-breaking work during the war saved countless lives. The Imitation Game will finally portray him in that light, and we couldn’t be more excited to see it.

In addition to Cumberbatch, who is being positioned as a Best Actor contender for his lead performance, The Imitation Game stars Keira Knightley as cryptanalyst Joan Clarke, Matthew Goode as cryptanalyst Hugh Alexander, Rory Kinnear as Detective Nock, Allen Leech as double agent John Cairncross, Mark Strong as Secret Intelligence Service Chief Stewart Menzies, Charles Dance as codebreaker Alastair Denniston, Matthew Beard as mathematician and codebreaker Peter Hilton, and James Northcote as cryptanalyst I.J. Good.

Morten Tyldum (Headhunters) is directing, from a Black List script by Graham Moore. If that wasn’t exciting enough already, Oscar Faura (Anna) is serving as the cinematographer, so we can expect the movie to be visually engrossing as well as gripping in terms of its narrative.

This is one of our most anticipated movies of the fall  – with all the talent involved, and Turing’s remarkable life serving as the focus, we’re expecting great things from The Imitation Game when it opens November 21st.