Benedict Cumberbatch to Play Hamlet on Stage

“Sherlock” star to headline revival in London

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Benedict Cumberbatch will put his own spin on William Shakespeare‘s iconic “to be or not to be” soliloquy in a new revival of “Hamlet.”

The “Sherlock” star will tread the boards as the melancholy and indecision prone prince of Denmark at London’s Barbican Theatre, a spokeswoman for the actor confirmed. The show will debut in August, 2015 and Lyndsey Turner (“Machinal”) will direct the production.

Also read: Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing in First Look at ‘The Imitation Game’ (Photo)

Cumberbatch last appeared on stage in 2011 in a Danny Boyle-directed adaptation of “Frankenstein,” alternating the roles of monster and maker with  Jonny Lee Miller, and picking up an Olivier Award for his troubles.  In a delicious coincidence, Miller went on to star as Sherlock Holmes in CBS’ update of the Baker Street sleuth, “Elementary.”

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On screen, Cumberbatch recently lent his dulcet tones to the role of the dragon in “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” and appeared in “12 Years a Slave.” He will playing Enigma code breaker Alan Turing in  “The Imitation Game.”

Cumberbatch’s involvement in “Hamlet” was first reported by the Daily Mail.

 

 

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