English actor Benedict Cumberbatch is returning to television with a new Showtime series, Deadline reports. A new trailer dropped this week for Cumberbatch’s new comedy-drama, Patrick Melrose. The new Showtime series will be a five-part limited series.
Patrick Melrose is based on the series of novels written by Edward St. Aubyn and follows the titular protagonist as he attempts to combat his alcoholism and confront his abusive childhood all while raising his own family.
The series’ cast is impressive: Cumberbatch is joined by Hugo Weaving, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Blythe Danner, Allison Williams, Jessica Raine, Holliday Grainger, and Pip Torrens. David Nicholls (known for writing One Day and Far From the Madding Crowd) adapted the novels for television while Edward Berger (Jack, Deutchland 83) directed all five parts of the limited series.
Earlier this week, Cumberbatch detailed why he was so attracted to the character of Melrose and why he believes the series is a compelling one. “At its heart the subject matter took something, a world I thought I knew, and turned it on its head through the perspective of this really unique character who suffers so much and goes on this extraordinary journey,” Cumberbatch said. “From victim to survivor to champion of his circumstance in a way and via the most richly comic, scalpel-like post-mortem of a class system that is crumbling and the power related to that dissolves as the stories continue.”
Patrick Melrose is set to premiere on Showtime later this year.