The first trailer for upcoming biopic The Current War is now here, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the famed inventor Thomas Edison.
The film is based upon the historical “War of the Currents” of the late 19th century, which saw the Westinghouse Electric Company with their alternating-current (AC), and the Edison Electric Light Company with their preferred direct-current (DC) competing for domination of the world’s electricity supply. The Current War is obviously giving things a Hollywood twist though, and is pitching it as a personal battle between two powerful men that could change the face of the future. Edison’s business rival here is George Westinghouse, as played by Michael Shannon (sporting some of the best facial hair you’ll see in a film this year).
Comic book movie lovers might want to check this one out as well due to its quartet of superhero heavyweights. Apart from having Doctor Strange himself in the lead, it also features Man of Steel‘s General Zod (Shannon), Tom Holland AKA the latest incarnation of Spider-Man and, last but not least, the X-Men franchise’s Nicholas Hoult, who’ll be playing celebrated electrician Nikola Tesla.
All in all, The Current War looks very promising. For staters, Thomas Edison is a role that Cumberbatch was born for, considering his preferred niche for playing geniuses (see: Sherlock, The Imitation Game, Hawking…seriously, we could be here all day). Especially now that he’s perfected his American accent. Michael Shannon, meanwhile, is a hugely reliable actor and watching the two of them share the screen promises to be a truly thrilling experience.
Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl), The Current War also stars Katherine Waterston (Alien: Covenant), Tuppence Middleton (Sense-8) and Matthew Macfadyen (Robin Hood), and will be with us on November 24th.
