Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch joined by Allison Williams in new TV project
Sources confirm that the former Girls star has found one of her next major projects alongside Cumberbatch in Patrick Melrose, a limited series set to air on Showtime. This is going to mark an opportunity to do something very different, and that should be exciting for everyone out there interested in seeing her stretch her wings.
The story is based on Edward St. Aubyn’s novels and will feature Cumberbatch as the title character. He is aristocratic, smart, and has a great sense of humor. He’s also a bit of a playboy, so this should be a very different part for him than what he’s done on Sherlock over the years.
The dark side of Patrick Melrose is that he covers up an abusive past both with his demeanor and then also a history in substance abuse. He’s going to have his work cut out for him trying to make it through this project in one piece.
So … what’s Allison’s role going to be?
She will be taking on the role of Marianne, but unfortunately, there isn’t that much known about her other than the fact that she is someone Melrose encounters in New York City. (Maybe if you’ve read the books, you’ll feel a little more informed than everyone else at the moment!)
You can expect to see some other notable names in this project, as well, in between Hugo Weaving and also Jennifer Jason Leigh. With this cast, you should be reminded once more that premium cable limited series are where almost everyone flocks at the moment! Just ask Reese Witherspoon and some of the other women who took part in Big Little Lies over on Netflix. There’s a lot to like about this project on the surface.
What does this project mean to Sherlock?
For those of you who are in the camp of wanting to see Benedict back on that show sooner rather than later, this gig doesn’t mean much of anything in terms of impacting it. He’ll be back there when the stars align and he, Martin Freeman, and creators Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat are ready to do more. Sometimes, things really don’t have to be all that complicated. We don’t expect it to be for a few more years, but we love seeing Cumberbatch and Williams — two performers who could easily turn up their noses at television at this point — continue to commit to doing the medium. That’s such a positive sign in terms of us continuing to get great stories there in the years to come.
What do you think about the project to date?
Be sure to share in the comments below!
Meanwhile, you can head over to the link here if you do want to get some further updates when it comes to Sherlock. (Photo: BBC One.)