Benedict Cumberbatch won’t even return to the stage this year. No one will be able to see his Hamlet until next year, in the late summer. But people (Cumberbitches) are already freaking out about it. When the tickets went on sale two weeks ago, there was a crazy rush online. And now the statistics have come out: Benedict is the biggest thing to hit the London stage in years. He’s also more popular (in a very limited set of circumstances!) than Beyonce. BENEDICT IS BIGGER THAN BEYONCE.
An upcoming Benedict Cumberbatch-starring Shakespearean theater show has become the U.K.’s most in-demand theatrical production of all time, according to local ticket website Viagogo. Hamlet, featuring the Sherlock star in the title role, isn’t due to being its 12-week run at London’s Barbican until summer 2015, but it has already topped theater charts since tickets went on sale Monday.
Not only is it outselling the next most popular shot, A Streetcar Named Desire, starring Gillian Anderson, by four to one, but in the hours after tickets were released Viagogo registered 214 per cent more ticket searches than Jay Z and Beyonce’s On the Run tour.
“The tragedy has instead become the success story for theater in 2015,” said a Viagogo spokesperson in a statement. “But will Benedict be or not be a worthy Hamlet – that is the question.”
You know what I’m thinking? I’m thinking that Benedict is going to get his first Oscar nomination for The Imitation Game. I’m thinking that he’s going to end up doing a lot of press over the next five months. And then he’s going to be worn out. And then he’ll film Sherlock Season 4 (hopefully?) and then he’ll do Hamlet and he’ll be tired but exhilarated. And even if his Hamlet isn’t the best, the Cumberbitches will be happy. And the show will be a success and everyone will say “Benedict can do it all!”
Photos courtesy of PR Photos.
LOL!
Beyonce has nicer legs.
Are you sure? Take a look at: http://treksinscifi.com/podcast_notes/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/benec3.jpg
Benedict wins in the legs department as well.
Very odd choice in swimwear….
This photo is another proof that I am incompatible with his physicality. I really don’t like his legs. His calves are way too prominent. I prefer slimmer calves and leaner legs. Damn, Cumby, why are we so incompatible?? *hangs head in dismay*
I’m sure he’ll try… but Best Actor looks like it will be stacked; Michael Keaton, Bill Murray, Steve Carrell, Gyllenhaal, Pitt will be hard to edge out.
If the category turns out to be the way wrote, I probably won’t be able to have a favourite. Michael Keaton, Bill Murray and Steve Carrell? Sounds amazing. I don’t think “Fury” is going to be all that good though.
And don’t forget Jamie Dornan is getting a nom for 50 Shades. Sorry, Benny. You’re clipped!
Bey will be on IG holding a pipe, wearing a deerstalker with a hog-tied Cumby slung over her shoulders. “Him-he’s just a one pipe problem…MUHAHAHA”.
Both Beyoncé and Benedict annoy me, so him being more popular than her isn’t saying much on my scale of annoying celebs. Haha.
Ditto.
I’m getting there. I want more Richard Armitage, Luke Evans, Dean O’Gorman, Lee Pace, Aidan Turner, and a few others. Hiddleston and Cumberbatch need to take a few breaks.
Benedict and Tom are just out there doing their job. As far as I can tell they are not doing anything to annoy anyone.
Perhaps the publications that use them both for hits need to take the breaks.
So doe Michael Fassbender, but who’s complaining .
@ Maggie,
It’s Benedict’s toff pampered behavior that annoys me in interviews. I don’t mind that he has been wealthy all of his life, it’s just the snobbish air that he sometimes carries with him that annoys me. Tom hiddleston doesn’t have a snobbish air from the interviews that I have seen. Tom may come off pretentious at times but not snobbish. Michael Fassbender, whom I think was raised middle class doesn’t carry that snobbish air at all, so I actually enjoy both Fassbender and Hiddleston. For the most part, Fassbender can just come off as slightly lacking in his interpersonal skills when it comes to his interviews skills because he says more than his fair share of “unsigned & you know”. However, he seems “down to earth ” and affable to me.
@ Leaflet
I have seen the Top Gear interview and IMHO he comes across as funny, self effacing and charming actually. In fact I have seen a lot of his interviews and he sure talks a lot but snobby, no.
He has always expressed his gratitude to his parents for working hard to afford him a privileged education and has said he wants to make them proud of him. I think he has succeeded in that.
Sorry this came up in the wrong place.
Oh I love Aidan Turner! I’ve often wondered why he doesn’t get any attention on here. He’s just the sweetest guy.
@ Leaflet
He actually hasn’t been wealthy all his life. His parents worked hard to afford Harrow (they were both working/jobbing actors) and he also got a scholarship and his Grandmother helped out with fees. He is not even particularly wealthy now. Someone linked to a site on here the other day and it had Benedict’s wealth at 2 million and Tom Hiddleston’s at 8 million and that includes assets.
Can you link me to an interview where he comes across as snobbish because I haven’t seen one. I don’t know what a “snobbish air” looks like so perhaps I missed it. He certainly comes across as affable, intelligent and caring in interviews to me.
Google the ‘Top Gear’ interview with Benedict Cumberbatch when you get a chance. There are other interviews where he comes off to me as snobbish as well, but ‘Top Gear’ readily comes to mind. A snobbish air is quite noticeable. You actually don’t even have to make any real strides to notice it. It sticks out on its own. We may differ some in our views of what wealthy is. Imo, just because one works constantly, doesn’t mean that they are not wealthy. Wealthy is being able to afford an above average, in retail, home and a nice private school even if you’re working hard for it. If you’re able to achieve it, then by my book, you are still quite wealthy. You are just a hardworking wealthy person. For some people, no matter how hard they work, they will never have any millions in income. For some, they will just barely be considered middle class and suburban. That’s no one’s fault. It doesn’t mean one works harder than the other, it just means that one is able to achieve more than the other financial wise. Again, Hiddleston may have had a more wealthier lifestyle and have more net worth, but he is still the more affable, even though he may seem pretentious at times actor, imo, because he carries himself in a more modest manner.
Isn’t the top gear where said he drove a his mom’s old junker until a few years ago?
Same, maggie, he doesn’t come off snobby to me either and cast and crew always seem to like him *shrugs* He does have the stereo typed facial features for it though, easy to do I suppose.
The only moment where he could’ve been perceived as rude was when he jokingly said “Are you wiping your windshield?” when Jeremy tried to stunt punch. He was clearly being silly though and it’s his humour. Whenever an interviewer tries to imitate something he goes “What are you doing? Salsa?”
Top Gear interview:
Host: “Why are the Americans incapable of casting an American as a baddie in any film?”
Cumberbatch: ” Yeah, I don’t know. I had a sort of a pet theory that they do vowels, which is sort of warm and loving and feeling. And we do consonants, which is sharp and intelligent and thinking. That’s that’s just hippie, mad and out in left field as I could get with it. I don’t know”
Host: “We sound more intelligent?”
Cumberbatch: “Sort of.”
* Genuinely nods head, yes*
“And maybe that’s scary for them, I don’t know.”
“End of my US career.”
He doesn’t come off as insufferably snobbish but mildly so, yet any kind of snobbery is irritating to me.
@ Maggie,
I can’t seem to control exactly where I put my comments either, lol. I posted the portion of the ‘Top Gear’ interview just above this comment. It isn’t addressed to you because a few others commented on their take of his interview as well. I dove right into the portion of the interview where I found Cumberbatch to be a bit snobbish. So I posted the comment initially for you, but it’s also for others who are interested in knowing as well. Cheers!! 🙂
I didn’t think it was snobbish. I thought it was cheeky 😛
@ Leaflet
Nope I can see nothing remotely snobbish in that Top Gear exchange. He was asked a question and answered it in a cheeky yet thoughtful manner.
He always answers questions thoughtfully and at great length sometimes but IMHO he never comes across as snobby or over privileged.
He has a well educated slightly modified RP accent but that is how he speaks and I would not like him to modify it or pretend that he is something he is not, like some actors do.
Obviously I am a fan and I am very disappointed that I will not be able to see his Hamlet live on stage. But air travel from the other side of the world plus tickets is beyond my means at present.
I hope we can agree to disagree. Cheers!
@Leaflet I think he can on occasion come over a bit superior rather than snobbish especially a prior to his making his move into the USA film world. But yes I have see comments in the national papers by people who have met him that said he came over as superior. But I do think that his looks sometimes make him look a bit lofty which does not help. I was surprised that he blew his A levels . I read something that quoted him as saying after his GCSE’s he was being geared up for Oxbridge but did not get the grades because of slacking off.
@Jimmypants I think it was one of those questions where the answer was always going to be problematic especially as we Brits believe it is because the Brits produce actors who are able to encompass a wider range of roles. I think Jaquar had the last word on that.
I don’t think it sounds snobbish, it was a joke in a very British way, as far as I can see… I think the worst one I’ve ever heard from him was actually an interview where the woman asked him about the size of Smaug’s *ahem*… And after her comparing Smaugs b*lls with her head and stating her head was probably smaller, he stated: “Yep, your head is quite small” (inferred second meaning…) … But in that one, she was actually being very annoying… and he was trying to change subject… 😀
Benny better not be getting any idea about wearing a nose veil with his little hat. 👀
Who would have thought a pasty white British guy could topple Queen B’s popularity on stage?!? Ha ha ha.
And for everyone who was able to get a ticket to see him in Hamlet… lucky you. Enjoy the show.
Narrower Parameter Still: Popular with Celebitches, with acting skill, male NOT Hiddleston, not very blessed on the face and neck department…annnddd Go!
Odd comparison.
He’s already fallen off the radar earlier than I expected. I want my $10, called it LOL.
Orange and apple.
“No one will be able to see his Hamlet until next year”
Heehee, my mind is totally in the gutter.
LMAO
LOL!
LOL!! Oink, oink, baby.
Tired could work for Hamlet.
This guy is nothing to look at ! Why are there so many articles with no content with him in them. I just don’t get why he is here everyday? There is nothing going on with him.
Perhaps people see beyond looks and recognise talent when they see it.
As to nothing going on, being the biggest thing to hit the London stage in years, is something to write home about. Tickets to Hamlet have virtually sold out in just a few days. That is a 3 month run in a large venue.
I can never figure out why LeeAnn Rimes is here every day. This is a bigger mystery to me. But I guess someone must be reading those posts.
I’d guess it’s because when Celebitchy posts articles about BC, many people click on them and read them, and comment on them, giving the site what it wants from posts. So it seems lots of people are interested in him, and based on the comments here and elsewhere many people think he is attractive, physically and otherwise. (Not that you have to agree, just that different people have different tastes. Some people find Joe Manganiello* gorgeous. But his appearance and public persona are turns offs for me…so I usually skip over posts about him.)
And also, I’m pretty sure Kaiser is a fan of his – her posts, her rules.
Finally, Cumberbatch does in fact have some things ‘going on’….new audio book, appearances at Comic Con, tickets on sale (and selling out) for his appearance in Hamlet next year.
* I did laugh a bit when my spellcheck complained about Manganiello’s last name, and wanted to replace it with ‘Megalomania’.
You’re preaching to the choir, sister! I love Cumby with the heat of a thousand suns. I may never recover.
I meant that someone must be reading the LeeAnn Rimes posts. Not me, but someone.
;-}
Kaiser, you slay me with these posts, “in a very limited set of circumstances!”. LMAO.
“in a very limited set of circumstances!”= At Kaiser’s house.
It does restore a bit of faith in humanity that Hamlet is more popular than On The Run. Shakespearean drama over elevator drama please!
This. All this.
Agreed 🙂
Agree…1000% agree.
Very good point.
YES! 🙂 Go Benny!
Well now…as much as I agree with this statement, this “Encumbered” never wrote it! How can there be two of us? Can user names be duplicated somehow? Any one else ever have this happen?
I haven’t personally, but yes, it’s happened quite a bit. This may be what led to so many commenters putting “The Original….” in front of their names. I’ve lost track of how many “Lucys” we’ve seen! I like the name “Encumbered” for a Cumby fan, btw.
Issue solved–I have reclaimed my name! Benedict will be happy, I am sure. ;=)
I’d like to think that it’s Hamlet being more popular than Beyonce, but I think this is really about Cumby playing Hamlet. It wouldn’t be the same ticket hysteria with anyone else at the moment.
Though now I wonder how long till some interviewer asks him “So what’s it like to be more popular than Beyonce?” or “Has Beyonce said anything to you about this?”
I give it a week before the tabloids start a’feud’ between BC and Beyonce!
LOL or link them as dating.
@MISSMARY
If that turns up on CDCN then I’ll laugh my socks off lol!
More searches on ONE ticket site and now people are claiming he is bigger than Beyonce!
What a laugh….
….and yes, I am a big Cumberbatch fan – I just loathe how some fans actually think he is the most famous man to walk the earth.
I could do a survey of roughly 100 people at work. Show them a pic of Beyonce and one of Benedict. *Everyone* would know who Beyonce is. I’m guessing maybe a quarter out of 100 would know BC and I’m being generous w/ that figure. (I’m in the States, which I think makes a difference re: his popularity here vs the UK etc).
I’m a huge fan but I don’t think alot of people I know even know who the hell he is! He’s definitely not more popular than Beyonce here. lol….
@SOPHIEK
I know exactly what you mean!_Even here in the UK there are a lot of people who wouldn’t recognise him…. Unless they know me,I have his face on mugs,t shirts,phone!!My nephew thinks Benedict is my boyfriend because he sees him so often…I wish! Lol xx
@Kazlock…Wow..I’m surprised at that. LOL..thought he’d definitely be more recognizable in the UK. But here in my little corner of the globe, not so much Benedict recognition. 😉
I must agree. No one I know knows who he is, even after Sherlock. Obviously, these people are not PBS watchers. Bummer. 🙁
As a documented Cumby-lover, I wish they would catch up, but I still just get the blank stare & then the burst of laughter when they hear his name.
Most people I know wouldn’t recognize his name, or know him from a picture of him when he’s not working.
But if I said he’s the guy from Sherlock, or he played Khan in the latest Star Trek, they’d probably know who he was, and more than I few would say “Oh, I love that show!” or “He’s (was) really good in that!” In fact I’ve had several people start gushing about Sherlock when I’ve mentioned him and his connection to the show.
He’s not a household name here in the US, yet. But he seems well known in the industry, and has a solid fanbase worldwide, so he will probably become better known over time if he keeps doing what he’s doing.
There was a lot of hype in the British press around the Hamlet tickets and it helped create a panic with people opening multiple windows, It was more about Sherlock’s popularity which created the fan base than Hamlet or Benedict. The truth was that tickets were available elsewhere and the wait was less than five minutes.
I was passing on links I was receiving and people I know had tickets within five minutes.
I brought a front row seat on the Friday (in three minute)prior to the public sales and did not even have to buy a membership with the Barbican. I even booked the wrong dates and phoned up five minutes later to change it and they were fine with it and I ended up with an even better ticket. All the front row seats went to a ticket agency I am a member of and on Monday they had still had lots when it opened to the public, I know people who got front row seats on the Monday as well.
Compared to getting tickets for Glastonbury it was a walk in the park
Mind you it was great for regular theatre attenders because they got access to great tickets.
Great for the Barbican who sold lots of memberships and then released tickets to about four agencies that I know of. Great for the skypers who can ask even more inflated prices and great for the live broadcast which will be announced now that tickets are sold out
@ Icerose
” It was more about Sherlock’s popularity which created the fan base than Hamlet or Benedict. ”
I seem to be on the defensive in these posts but I know many people who were introduced to Benedict through Parade’s End, Frankenstein, Hawking or Third Star and who are also very keen on Shakespeare.
Having looked at some theatre forums, as well, I can tell you that the theatre going public are also eagerly acquiring Hamlet tickets.
Many people from overseas made the decision to buy a membership at The Barbican to ensure they got tickets in the time frame that suited them. Also not everyone was lucky enough to be members of the ticket agency you belonged to, particularly those people who do not live in London or indeed Britain.
I am glad you had an easy time getting tickets but not everyone had such an easy time of it and many of these were experienced theatre goers.
@Maggie I know that he had theatre fans etc prior but it was Shelrock that gave him widened and increased his fan base and helped him break through in the states. If it had been his fan base prior to Sherlock there would not have been the pressure on tickets.
My point was that many of the best seats had been secured by ticket agencies which seemed a tad unfair if you had paid up for a membership. It is a common practice for this to happen with one or two agencies which have a link to a theatre but not always. The Donmar does not do it. They sell all their tickets through one agency.In this case it was about four agencies who were selling tickets to the public as well as the Barbican which surprised me.
One theatre forum I went on suggested it might be to prevent a front row of Sherlock fans which I gather is what happened during Frankenstein?? but I am not convinced.
It was kind of strange because the email was only sent to specific members and some people who were not members. It was suggested on one forum it was linked to signing up to alerts on Freidmen’s web page but whatever it was the system was a bit unfair.
I
“One theatre forum I went on suggested it might be to prevent a front row of Sherlock fans which I gather is what happened during Frankenstein??”
@icerose, what I had heard about Frankenstein was that the issue with the front row during Frankenstein wasn’t that it was a front row of Sherlock fans, it was that it was a front row of the *same* fans night after night (Sherlock fans or not) Apparently there were some with lots of money who were in the front row for just about every performance. That had to be a bit disconcerting and distracting for the actors to see the same faces staring up at them night after night.
But the Barbican got around that with Hamlet by limiting tickets to 6 per household across all performances. Though there will probably be some who figure ways to see it multiple times, it won’t always be the front row and it won’t be every performance.
As far as the overall ticket sale process, what seemed to be confusing a lot of people was how the tickets were limited during the Barbican pre-sale, with statements that no additional tickets would be released when the public sale began, when it seemed obvious that there were many tickets being held back (more than the announced 100/show or what people would normally expect for producer hold backs) and then notices that the stalls were “sold out” when in fact they were just not available from the Barbican. So that once lots of tickets suddenly were being offered through Freidman’s list and even more showed up at multiple agencies not just ATG, that’s when people started getting upset. From what I heard, mostly because whether or not they got tickets, there wasn’t a lot of transparency RE where and when most of the tickets were going to be offered, leaving people who bought memberships feeling taken advantage of (even though those memberships did give them the benefit of being assured tickets, so personally I think they got what they paid for) and other folks scrambling around trying to find tickets from multiple places, including places not mentioned on the Barbican website.
With the queues and the ticket limits and the requirement of the ticket buyer presenting ID at the theatre, it seems fairer than some other sales I’ve seen, or at least seems to be aiming to keep tickets accessible for many people instead of allowing scalpers to buy up blocks to resell for crazy high prices. But then having tickets show up in multiple channels without the Barbican being clear on what was going to happen caused confusion and made things seem unfair.
Pretty much, North of Boston. I also think there were people who didn’t understand how anything worked, and that added to the confusion overall, ie., the theater itself didn’t hold back any of its allotment, which people took to mean no more tickets.
The tickets held back for students are also a mix of seats, so some of those are likely ‘good’ seats that would have been shown as sold or whatnot from the start.
I’d proceed with caution with any other agency because it looks like the theater is only acknowledging ATG and Encore, with Encore spreading out tickets through some affiliates. Other venues that are selling them snagged them up during the member’s sale and aren’t ‘official’ so to speak.
@Shiv: Oh, yes, this! I think the man is amazing as an actor but the way so many of his fans think he’s the proverbial second coming is just nuts.
@MISSMARY
I thought I was a bit obsessed with him,but some of his fans are WAY out there!Try cracking a joke about him on some pages and you’re life’s at serious risk!
And heaven forbid suggest a girlfriend!!(secret or otherwise) lol xx
@Kazlock: That’s why I avoid almost every tumblr fan site except those explicitly dedicated to just his work. There’s a lot of absolute foaming at the mouth if he’s even mentioned in the same sentence as a woman on most of ’em.
MISSMARY I had a fabulous post I was going to put on Tumblr,just to see the reaction. Pretty sure they would put a hit on me though.What do you think?
‘After returning from sex holiday with one if his many secret girlfriends,BC spotted in Soho sex club with well known dominatrix’
Lol xx
@Kazlock: OMG I’m dying laughing! That would get you swarmed by livid fans but I bet it’d also get some legs on it and be everywhere by the end of the weekend, lol, with some folks swearing they saw him there, or their aunt’s friend’s hairdresser knows the exotic dancer he cozied up to.
@MISSMARY
It could be true for all we know…
Since he returned to London on Monday I don’t think there’s been any sightings of him(real or imaginary).Not seen anything.
Do hope she remembered to untie him lol!
I like Benedict. I think he’s an excellent actor, but seriously…how many productions of Hamlet can one take?!
Every time you turn around someone else is doing Hamlet.
It’s getting monotonous.
it’s like Ben Hur, how many times can they remake that.
Hiddle-Hur and Benny-Massala
is it me or does that sound like a curry?
i’ll get my coat…
Naah, you can’t compare the number of Hamlet and Ben-Hur adaptations though.
I think the biggest possible problem with making a successful Hamlet is that people are bored with traditional versions and want different, original, updated takes on the material. And in order to succeed, such takes need to strike a fine balance here. I have hope in Turner though.
There are only two Hamlets I know of this season with relatively well known stars but yes it is a popular play and considered a right of passage by many actors. Benny was is just tipping the age for Hamlet so it was not surprising he decided to have a go.
I am just interested to see what he and the director do with it and how it will compare to Maxine Peake’s Hamlet.She is my female hero acting wise at the moment. The Donmar are doing an all female Henry IV if I can get tickets for it.
@Innie Outie I think you are right. Just as long as they do not put them in army gear because I am so bored with that scenario as well. I thought Freemans office scenario was interesting even if it just missed the mark. How about they set it in a big Country House called Elsinore, Abbey.
I saw the Donmar’s all female Julius Caesar. It was incredible.
What is that you said, darling?
http://sherlockspeare.tumblr.com/post/93971967074/coughcough-i-thought-he-was-panting-saying-oh
I’m going to a question,and risk being called obsessed as I was on another thread, but has there been any BC sightings or news since he returned to London?
Nooooooooooope. Even Naomi at Cumberbatchweb has flat out said there’s no sightings or news of him. If he’s got filming coming up soon (as has been mentioned since he’s not attending the Emmys due to filming commitments), then he’s probs just preparing for that.
Or he’s off having a last sex holiday with Alice Eve whilst they wear straws in their eyes.
@MISSMARY
Lol!He’s going to be worn out…after the sex holiday and Soho sex club!Poor boy will need more than straws!
Wasn’t Alice linked with him last year?Smoke and no fire if I remember rightly?
They’ve been friends for ages, since Starter for Ten or about then. During the STiD promo tour they hung out a lot and it led to speculation they might be hooking up. A lot of folks (myself included) were pretty sure she was fame-whoring/coat tail riding since her career isn’t exactly ablaze and now her “good, dear friend” was super famous. A lot of b.s. with her instagram, cropping pics so it looked suggestive of a romance (when there were other folks with them or it was a social and not a private setting), lots of deleting comments on her IG that didn’t ask about their relationship and making it look like she was coyly ignoring them etc. It was sketchy, at least a lot of folks thought so, but long story short… never dated. Maybe hooked up back in the day but they were never an “official” couple at any time.
That’s the gist of what I heard to.Think she is living with a guy now.Seemed a little pushy with BC.
Maybe you could help me with something I saw on YouTube please?
Clips of behind the scenes at Golden Globes. BC and a blonde guy were in an airport buggy chatting to a brunette,she sat to the driver.The way it was edited was to look like she and BC were ‘close’.Could this be where the brunette gf started?
My take is that she could be a handler(that the right word?).
@Kazlock: I have no idea about that vid but maybe it’s where it came from?
K – I suspect one of the reasons you’re getting that label it that you’re asking the “is there any news!?!?!? ” question almost daily, or at least on every thread. Asking about it isn’t going to make news surface any quicker. (Or maybe it’s all the Sherlock/BC memorabilia you’ve claimed to have…I picture your flat looking something like Jimmy Fallon’s in Fever Pitch, only with Cumberbatch instead of the Red Sox 😛 )
All the news at the moment seems to be about him filming something that is keeping him from going to the Emmys, and maybe doing a photoshoot for a mag to be released later in the year. No details on either.
FROM NORTH OF BOSTON
I ask on these threads because the info is usually more accurate than T(of which I can only navigate one page that was mentioned here)
My tech skills are useless so stick to sites that are on my search history.I apologize if I’m annoying.You all just seem to know more than the other site.
My BC stuff was inherited from my niece.She ‘ went off’ him.Hate to thrown decent things away.
@MISSMARY
Thankyou