BAFTA-nominated director Will Sharpe (Flowers) has enlisted Benedict Cumberbatch (Avengers: Endgame) and Claire Foy (The Crown) to star in Louis Wain, a biopic of the 19th century English artist.
As reported by Variety, the film will see Cumberbatch portraying the prolific artist Wain, “a brilliant man inspired by both his love of the world and the love of his life, Emily (Foy).”
“I am thrilled by the prospect of playing the courageous, playful spirit that is Louis Wain and to be producing such a special film,” said Cumberbatch. “I have admired Will’s work for several years through ‘Flowers’ and, from the moment we first met, knew he was the perfect person to bring Louis’ inspirational and Odyssean story to life.”
Cumberbatch has the spy drama Ironbark and Sam Mendes-directed war drama 1917 set to arrive this year, and will reprise his role as the Sorcerer Supreme for Marvel Studios’ recently announced Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Foy meanwhile was last portraying Lisbeth Salander in 2018’s The Girl in the Spider’s Web.