Benedict Cumberbatch looks Assange-y in new ‘Fifth Estate’ images: gross or hot?

Benedict Cumberbatch will have the Cumberbitches fainting in the aisles and on the streets soon enough. I mean, he already does that, but it’s going to get epic in just a few short months. The Batch is due to premiere The Fifth Estate – the Julian Assange/WikiLeaks movie – at the Toronto Film Festival in September. The Fifth Estate is actually OPENING TIFF. And then the film will be released on October 18th. Mark your calendars! The Batch is happening all over the place.

Anyway, Dreamworks just released a new poster and a bunch of new promotional images from the film. Some of the pics are more flattering than the first awful photo of Benedict in his Assange wiglet. The film also stars Daniel Bruhl (as Daniel Domscheit-Berg), Anthony Mackie, Laura Linney, David Thewlis, Dan Stevens (Matthew from Downton Abbey), Peter Capaldi (the new Doctor Who), Stanley Tucci and Alicia Vikander.

You know what I’m fascinated with today? What did they do to Cumberbatch’s eyebrows? We’ve never really talked about his eyebrows, mostly because there’s so many other body parts to obsess about (his hair, his lips, his eyes, etc). But seriously, the man has eyebrow issues and I think he dyed them white-blonde for this role. Either that or they gave him blonde eyebrow merkins. GROSS.

PS… Does anyone else think that Julian Assange should be really thankful that Dreamworks put together such a great cast for this film and really spent money on it? Because it could have been really bad – like Ashton Kutcher-in-Jobs bad.

Photos courtesy of Dreamworks.

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88 Responses to “Benedict Cumberbatch looks Assange-y in new ‘Fifth Estate’ images: gross or hot?”

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  1. T.Fanty says:

    I hate myself for finding the poster image SO very, very hot.

    • TuttiFruttie says:

      Well, at least you aren’t stuck on the eyebrows, now. Thanks Kaiser.

      Seriously just spent a minute or so, staring at his eyebrows… wondering- did he dye them? Did they fall out? Do we have any candid pics of him from this time point? How does the Cumberhair survive all this dying?? Will someone just think of the Cumberhair and its suffering????

      • T.Fanty says:

        Oh, he dyed them. There’s a pic of him in a beanie hat during filming and he looks like an albino hippie. It’s terrifying. I’ll have a look and see if I can find it.

      • TuttiFruttie says:

        @T.Fanty

        Oh, yes please! or perhaps I can get get my google-fu on, ha!

        Albino hippie and I’d still do him! what is wrong with me… Although, I was still into him during the music festival photos- jorts, boots, flip-flops, greasy hair, hung over/high, scarf…. so, really, albino hippie is almost an upgrade? (should I go sit in shame or revel in this?)

      • Lindy79 says:

        The beanie picture was hilarious…it also made it look as if he had teddy bear ears.

      • EscapedConvent says:

        @Lindy,

        There is a pic of him wearing a hat with teddy bear ears. It’s cute as hell. I didn’t notice any eyebrows, though. I wonder if we’re remembering the same picture. I think I’ll look for it.

        I recall thinking “Here is an adult man wearing a teddy ear-hat, & I still think he’s hot.”

        The hook is deep. But if he shows up in a full Panda hat, I’m off him.

      • T.Fanty says:

        To be honest, I don’t think the Assange eyebrow situation is *that* different to the Cumberbatch eyebrow situation.

      • curlsunited says:

        @EscCon Don’t make promises you might not be able to keep. He’d be the sexiest Panda hat wearing grown-up ever (besides: wouldn’t we all interpret it as a Cumby “Save the Pandas” campaign and donate like mad?).
        As long as he doesn’t turn up on the TIFF red carpet in a full kangaroo suit, he can wear whatever he fancies, which means I like him in everything (would prefer him in wearing nothing, to be honest).

    • Anna says:

      I really like the trailer (it’s the same old one, right?) and am very curious about the movie.

      Aaaand, there’s no Russia release date. Just like RUSH. I decided it’s an act of protest against the Germans or something, as Bruhl is in both movies.

  2. stellalovejoydiver says:

    Why are you looking at Benlizard Cucumberalien when you can look at Daniel?

  3. kim says:

    I don’t think he’s very attractive in general

    • Leah says:

      He is not attractive but a really good actor. Not everyone has to be super handsome to be a compelling actor.

      • Belle says:

        Very much agree with this in general, though the post is asking (as many do) if BC looks gross or hot in these photos.

        I don’t think anyone is suggesting that someone must be handsome in order to be a good actor. I personally don’t find him attractive either…. at all, in these photos or others. That doesn’t mean I don’t think he is a good actor though. 😉

      • Belle says:

        Oh. Someone else called Belle.
        Well.. This could get confusing. I don’t own the name of course, but I think I had it first.

    • MonicaQ says:

      His face always reminds me of a less rugged Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler mixed with an alien. Some people (most of the people here and 98% of tumblr) are into that.

      One day I’ll watch Sherlock. Probably years late like I did with Torchwood.

  4. Sixer says:

    I hope he does look slightly weird and fug in this. It would be odd if he didn’t. I’m looking forward to this film.

    And oh, oh, oh, what a cast. Lots of my favourites: Daniel Bruhl, Laura Linney, David Thewlis, Peter Capaldi, Stanley Tucci.

    I’m all a-quiver.

    • T.Fanty says:

      Peter Capaldi, putting all the lesser bitches to shame.

    • Sixer says:

      I might let you play with Capaldi, but only because Tucci is there. Both are on my list though.

      • T.Fanty says:

        Deal.

      • Sixer says:

        I’m going to cucci with the Tucci. But I’m not sure how you’ll rhyme the Capaldi. Fool aroundy?

      • Lindy79 says:

        I hope I’m not alone in this but does anyone else want to Doctor to go all “F*ckity-Bye!” on everyone

      • j.eyre says:

        How are we going to work this, Sixer? You get Cucci-Tucci first and I get Bruhl? And then we swap around dusk in the drawing room? And where does Anthony Mackie work into the rotation (hmm, I am going to need a moment with my rotating Mackie thoughts)

      • Sixer says:

        Miss Eyre, this plan suits. I’ll be busy with Idris during the Mackie cycle.

      • T.Fanty says:

        While Capaldi and I just stand in the corner, drinking and making up ways to curse you all out. Which is perfect today, because I have a headache after seeing Sherlock in sweatpants.

      • j.eyre says:

        Excellent. CHemboy is on probation currently so this fills in my schedule beautifully.

        Dammit, Fanty – if you are doing Cumberbatch those vile little hedgehogs will run amok through the west wing. I hope your clever quips provide ground cover.

    • Bijlee says:

      Anthony mackie is in this too! Benny and Tony. Yes I will shill out good money to see this.

      As far as Benedict in this wig goes…still would. All I really need is the voice.

    • EscapedConvent says:

      David Thewlis, you say? I *love* David Thewlis!

  5. Reece says:

    Is that Matthew Crawley and the 12th Doctor? (blanking on names right now)
    I’m really creeped out by his look in this but it, the film, looks really well done.

    • Amelia says:

      Indeed it is 🙂
      Loved Capaldi since Mrs Caldicott’s Cabbage War.

    • St says:

      “Mathew” looks good here. He should always be this thin. He looks hot like that. He always have little problems with weight. He gains a little and then his face looks bloated and he is not that “Hollywood” hot. I wonder how he will play here. Can he act beyond Matthew Crawley?

  6. TuttiFruttie says:

    Well. Ok, so he looks better with shorter hair… the longer wig, meh. More importantly- still would. 1000x yes!

    And… his accent is decent, but, and maybe it’s just the trailer, I feel like all of his lines have the same sort of… inflection? Like heavy-handed, slowish, importance to them?

    Interested to see it, though! The cast looks amazing!

    • Leah says:

      I kind of agree on the accent and the way he talks. I am not sure why he is doing that, I watched the wikileaks documentary and i dont recall Julian assange talking in such slow heavy handed manner. That said i am interested in watching the movie.

    • Maureen says:

      Supposedly this is how Assange himself talks. With these odd inflections and pauses. It’s been reported that BC nailed his accent and speech pattern.

    • Lucrezia says:

      I think the first 80% of what you hear from Assange in the trailer is supposed to be snippets from a single speech. That’d be the reason for the heavy-handed intonation: most of us talk differently when giving a speech. On top of that, re-watch the first minute of any Assange interview: his odd intonation is always REALLY bad at the start, then it becomes less obvious as he relaxes. Assange’s odd speech patterns are heavily exacerbated by nerves.

      Now, if Cumby holds that “I’m making a speech” tone through the entire movie then it’d be a caricature, but I don’t think he does. The two lines that don’t seem to be from the speech: “We’re going to nail those bastards” and “They’re coming after us, we need to publish – now!” have a different – smoother, more normal – tone.

      If the movie has 95% “normal conversation” and just 5% “making a speech while suffering stage fright”, then I think it’ll come out fine.

  7. Tish says:

    Gross and hot!

    Uninspired poster but Bruhl looks cuddly.

  8. curlsunited says:

    Of course they dyed his eyebrows to match the wig(s), And they plucked them, I suppose, as they are very unobtrusive (Makes me think of this other person who was referred to as eyebrowless in Cumber context).
    I am soooo looking forward to this film!

  9. videli says:

    Cumb-whatever! I’ll be watching for Peter Capaldi. I adore that guy.

  10. break says:

    It’s Jackie Rogers Jr!

  11. manta says:

    The casting assembled around Cumberbatch seems very promising!I love Thewlis,Mackie,Capaldi and Laura Linney.

  12. ncboudicca says:

    Hot. Always hot.

  13. aenflex says:

    Never, in any measure, have found this man attractive. Yech.

  14. Felice says:

    I never thought he would make Julian Assange attractive and I’m just like “G–dammit” but I know they are completely different people which is amazing. I probably won’t get into TFE at TIFF but I’ll be there hopefully to spot him and see other films.

  15. Dani says:

    I know I should be ashamed of myself (except I’m not) but I would so hit it while he was Assange’d. Something so creepy about the way he looks that it’s like really hot.

  16. Lindy79 says:

    I just hope this is included in the film.
    I don’t care how, and I don’t care why

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNqd4hW98sQ

  17. GeeMoney says:

    I personally thinks he looks ridiculous in that wig as Assange… but since it’s just a movie, I’ll give him a pass. I still love him anyway.

  18. whocares says:

    This movie looks good. Shes looking at cumberbatch because he is the lead. Duh

  19. whocares says:

    And theres something about Cumberbatch that is…idk ugly hot. Like this guy can be sexy and weird at the same time. Id tap that.

    • Felice says:

      I heard Tyra Banks say “Je ne sais quoi” (term for ugly pretty or oddly pretty) when you said that lol. But it’s true and it draws you into him.

      • whocares says:

        Yeah he is enduring. I think thats why women are attracted to him cause he doesn’t look like your normal average guy. I think him and Cillian Murphy belong in that category.

    • Janey says:

      jolie laide is the term for him, really. It translates as ugly-beautiful.

  20. Abby says:

    Call me weird or what but I still find Cumberbatch sexy in that getup. Daniel also looks damn hot. I’ll be a happy girl watching this movie with some of my favourite actors.

  21. lisa says:

    he reminds me of martin short as jackie rogers jr

  22. Jessica says:

    Well given the film is based on a book written by a guy who sabotaged Wikileaks dropbox, stole all the as of then unpublished submissions and later destroyed them (and literally changed his tune over a dozen times in 2 days over that eg. he told half the press he talked to that he had destroyed the key, a quarter that he did no such thing, and told the rest he never even had any submissions. Years later and his story is still changing depending on who he’s speaking to), I’m pretty sure Julian Assange would rather this was a flop that didn’t line the pockets of a liar who turned on Wikileaks when he realised Julian wasn’t his BFF.

    • Felice says:

      Well he has the script and I believed he didn’t have too much to say about it. I mean, no more than you would expect. He doesn’t hate BC either.

  23. EscapedConvent says:

    Cumby does indeed have eyebrow issues. I think it’s mainly that it doesn’t seem to occur to anyone to color them darker to look right with his darker hair. That’s a pretty easy fix & would make a huge difference.

    I always wonder why they don’t do that for Sherlock. Eyebrows are a big deal on a face!

    I volunteer again to zip over to the set with my universal taupe eyebrow powder pencil.

  24. vixo says:

    I’ll eat my words for having called him reptilian etc he’s def hot in motion and what a voice…..

  25. MissMary says:

    I’m eh about Assange as a person but find the entire Wikileaks situation terribly interesting. I don’t know if I’ll go see this in the theatres, though, despite my enjoyment of BC’s acting… May just wait for it to, ha, leak or show up on pay cable so I can walk away more easily if it sucks.

  26. allons-y alonso says:

    Julian Assange did an interview yesterday on an Australian Radio station (I could listen to the host’s voice all day) – he’s still a prick. He’s hoping his political party (The Wiki Leaks Party) will win some seats in the upcoming federal election. Forgive the tangent, the election here is pure idiocy. Back to the film though, it looks good.

  27. Helena says:

    Still hot. Looks as if he’s a sexy elf from ‘Lord Of The Rings’.He’d have to take the false teeth out though. Yes, they should darken his eyebrows when he’s got dark hair.The only thing that puts me off a bit are his toes. They seem to have a life of their own.

  28. mds says:

    I don’t think he’s attractive at all…am I blind?

    • Side-Eye says:

      I see these kind of comments on every single BC post on here. Some people find him attractive, some people don’t, you’re not obligated to do either and you aren’t weird or special either way you feel about him.

  29. kes says:

    Have none of the Cumberpeople realised that Benny is just Richard Chamberlain circa 1979? The resemblance is strong, the only difference is perhaps sexual orientation.

  30. d b says:

    Eh. Not my type

  31. Maria says:

    Not a great look for Cumberbatch and since I’m not interested in Assange, I’ll be skipping this one.

  32. flipflop says:

    I didn’t get the furor with BC. But, I just watched him as Kahn in Star Trek and really liked him. He has a lovely voice that I could easily listen to endlessly.

  33. Aud says:

    Not hot.
    He reminds me of one of the characters from Cloud Atlas – weird…except that’s how Cumberbatch’s face normally looks like.
    I’m amazed by him getting Assange’s gestures and accent, more so by the looks.

  34. Jess says:

    Oh, Moritz Bleibtreu and Daniel Brühl!
    🙂
    They are really, really popular here.

  35. HappyLucy says:

    This guy gives me the chills and / or nightmares. Please stop egging this on. Movie looks interesting though