Benedict Cumberbatch First Look "Doctor Strange"

Getty Images

Benedict Cumberbatch may play the inventor of the lightbulb in the upcoming historic drama “The Current War,” but the first image of him from the film is decidedly dark.

The Weinstein Company provided a sneak peek at the Oscar-nominated British actor as Thomas Edison in director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s upcoming movie, which is set in the late 1880s.

The film tracks Edison’s rivalry with George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon) to build a marketable and sustainable electricity system.

Also Read: 'Spider-Man' Star Tom Holland Joins Benedict Cumberbatch in 'The Current War'

Benedict Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison in THE CURRENT WAR

The Weinstein Company

Edison championed the use of a direct current for electric power distribution over an alternating current, which was backed by Westinghouse Electric and a host of European companies.

The film, with a script by Michael Mitnick (“The Giver”), also stars Katherine Waterston (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”), Tom Holland (“Spider-Man: Homecoming”), Matthew Macfadyen (“Ripper Street”), Tuppence Middleton (“The Imitation Game”) and Nicholas Hoult (“Mad Max: Fury Road”) as Nikola Tesla.

Also Read: Benedict Cumberbatch Is Related to 'Sherlock Holmes' Writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The film marks a return to historical biopics for Cumberbatch, who earned an Oscar nomination for his role as WWII code-breaker Alan Turing in “The Imitation Game.” Gomez-Rejon’s last film was the Sundance darling “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.”

Basil Iwanyk, Timur Bekmambetov and Harvey Weinstein are producing “The Current War,” with Cumberbatch and Adam Ackland serving as executive producers.

“The Current War” doesn’t have a release date yet but it’s expected in theaters later in 2017.

Charlize Theron, John Legend and Scene at Sundance Women's March (Photos)

Protesters attend the Women's March Saturday in Park City, Utah, in the midst of the Sundance Film Festival.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Chelsea Handler and Maria Bello spoke at the Women's March in Park City, Utah, on Saturday.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
John Legend was among the protesters at the Women's March in Park City.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Charlize Theron joined the protesters at the Women's March.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Protesters march down Main Street for the Women's March.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Sundance Women's March.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Filmmaker Peter Bratt and his actor brother Benjamin Bratt address the crowd at the Women's March in Park City.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
A young protester at the Women's March in Park City.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Maria Bello at the Women's March.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Aisha Tyler speaks at the Sundance version of the Women's March.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Connie Britton rallies the crowd at the Women's March in Park City.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Protesters at the Sundance Women's March.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Protesters at the Women's March.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
A protester at the Sundance Women's March.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Charlize Theron snaps a selfie at the Sundance Women's March.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Protesters at the Women's March in Park City.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Protesters at the Sundance Women's March.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Protesters at the Sundance Women's March.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Protesters at the Sundance Women's March.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
A protester at the Sundance Women's March.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
Protesters at the Women's March in Park City, Utah.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap
The scene at the Sundance Women's March.

Photographed by Sara Terry for TheWrap