Ever since I watched the Drunk History episode about Raold Dahl (starring Will Ferrell as Dahl), I’ve been hoping Hollywood would take notice and do a bio-pic limited to Dahl’s work as a sexy spy for the Allies. That is a WWII bio-pic I would gladly watch, and I’m already dream-casting it in my mind. In the meantime, Hollywood just greenlighted another WWII bio-pic and just like with The Imitation Game, they went to Benedict Cumberbatch to play the lead. The film is an adaptation of The War Magician, the true story of Jasper Maskelyne, a real-life magician who used his magical powers (sleight of hand!) to help the Allies.
Black Mass star Benedict Cumberbatch has come attached to star in The War Magician, a fact-based World War II thriller that is being written by Book Of Eli scribe Gary Whitta from David Fisher’s fact-based book. Cumberbatch will play Jasper Maskelyne, a world famous magician who turned his skills toward creating sleight-of-hand stunts that fooled the Nazis and helped Allied fighting forces.
Maskelyne and his exploits have long caught the fancy of Hollywood actors; Tom Cruise was once attached to play him in a feature for Paramount that never fully conjured. Maskelyne put together a dirty dozen-type coterie of illusionists called The Magic Gang. Among other stunts, they created fake tanks and soldiers to give the illusion of troop movement to Nazi spy planes overhead. They used mirrors to shield machine gun nests, disguised tanks as supply trucks, and even managed to create illusions that concealed sites like the Alexandria harbor and Suez Canal, to keep Luftwaffe bombers from blowing them up. Maskelyne’s stunts vexed Gen.Rommel and his unstoppable forces in North Africa and gave the Brits a fighting chance using what the master magician termed “the mass production of tricks, swindles and devices.”
It’s Cumberbatch’s second recent undertaking in sleight-of-hand stuff. He stars as the title character in the Scott Derrickson-directed Doctor Strange, playing the former surgeon who is taken under wing by a sorcerer to save the world. Disney releases the film November 16, 2016.
Wow, Maskelyne sounds like a really amazing dude. And yes, he was British, so we won’t have to hear Benedict attempt another half-assed non-British accent. But… judging from his Wiki page, I think Benedict will probably feel the need to grow a very sketchy, very thin mustache.
Also: I want to know how Maskelyne used illusions to hide the Suez Canal and Alexandria harbor. I mean… that’s world class, right there. Eat your heart out, David Blaine. Anyway, even though it’s yet another WWII bio-pic for Bendy and yet another magic-themed film following Doctor Strange, I think this will probably be an excellent role for him. Plus, I do love magic.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
What does a ‘fact-based’ thriller mean? Does it mean a film shot in the style of documentary?
They’re going to base it (probably loosely) on facts but also take a lot of artistic liberties…I’m guessing
Some of the stuff really happened and then they make up stuff for the movie for dramatic effect.
He should be pictured on all the money! A true hero who never got his due! A travesty! Honor the man! Nazis! I’m showing such range! Give me my Oscar now!
LOL – hopefully his PR will feed him new lines.
Lol. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
I wonder if we’ll get another marriage and baby this time, too?
He wants a batch of Cumbers and a batch of Oscars.
He and his wife will probably have a few more kids, yeah.
I can see the kids coming, but the oscars not so much.
Another WW11 movie?
Every year the same thing.
Yes but you gotta admit this is a new twist. This is the first I’ve heard of this guy, pretty amazing.
I’d recommend the Horrible Histories episode about Maskelyne on Youtube if you’d like a – very silly – recap of what he got up to.
That’s the first thing that came to mind when I heard about this.
This is a great story of the war effort and I’m glad to hear about this movie. Cumbers will be great and I adore the name Jasper. As long as he can use his own accent, he’ll be fine, and Bob’s his uncle.
Dammit, the Roald Dahl video is region locked!
Aww, Kaiser, I think you may be disappointed. Maskelyne was a bit of a fibber and grandiose self-publicist. Can’t imagine how they will make this film – biopic of an inveterate boaster or fantasy epic in which his boasts actually happened?
BTW: Roald Dahl’s autobiography for kids, Boy, covers the war and is a lovely read.
The chapter in that, where he goes to the doctor and his adenoids has never, ever left my consciousness
But there will be NAZIS! For Bendy’s Oscar run.
I guess if that is the case (never heard of the guy, have to do some reading) they will probably make it heroic and awesome in the movie, even if it means fudging the truth.
Lindy – I KNOW! I love Boy. Here it is, just for you: https://8englishcm.wikispaces.com/file/view/roald+dahl+recount.pdf
Lilac/Vauvert – seriously, I’m wondering if it’ll be some kind of Indiana Jones thing. Cos the guy is notorious for having told the most enormous whoppers.
That would be a relief from his try-hard, I deserve the Oscar thirst. Although I understand that his own company is producing this.
It might even be quite fun!
Damn you Sixer, you just KNOW I had to click on that.
I remember reading that obsessively as a kid, over and over again in one of those “nope, I did not just read that” moments.
I am afraid to confess I did know you wouldn’t be able to resist! I think Boy does a great job of explaining the recurring theme of Untrustworthy Evil Adult that runs throughout all Dahl’s stories.
My dad used to read that aloud to us.
Groundbreaking. I’m sure they’ll be creative with it though
So Nazis +(Turing*Dr Strange) = Next years oscar bid.
Because Nazis!
Forget this drama stuff, I want to see him in a dry, witty “To Catch a Thief” style movie perhaps set up against a rivalry with Tom Hiddleston…Cumberbatch and Hiddleston could be rival jewel thief, or one could be reformed, or one could the Detective. Hmm, perhaps they fight for.. what actress?
Kelly, I love that idea and I look forward to that happening someday. I think Hiddles ought to be a jewel or art thief. He would be very believable in such a role. He does mischief so well. Cumby might be tired of being a detective, but I think he could do something quite clever with that. They are both good at comedy and I would love to see them in a dry, witty comedy. Here’s hoping…..
I really want Tom and Kate Winslet in a film together- being fought over by Ben and Tom is perfect for her perfection!
Say what you will- that era does have compelling stories left to tell. I am intrigued by this-I have never heard of this guy, either. I can certainly believe the real life guy prob puffed the resume a bit. And if playing the guy who essentially derailed the U2 attacks in the North Atlantic didn’t get him the Oscar, doubt if this one will- but who cares? And I hope they do right by Dr Strange, he’s a great character.
I’ve given up on him doing a Veep or Thick of It style movie or show. I genuinely think he’d be brill at it.
That I’d pay to see.
You can see shades of that in the episode of Have I Got News for You that he hosted.
Turing meets Strange, how original BC….
His choices are so disappointing, he’s a good actor but he plays it so safe.
And his own company is producing this so it isn’t as if studios only see him in a limited range; it is clearly his comfort zone and he doesn’t want to leave it.
Maybe he just understands his own limited range and works it to his advantage. Safe choices = awards.
im by no means an expert but i thought Maskelyne was confident, outgoing and kinda of a con artist. not really turing or strange, i don’t think he’s ever played a char like this before
the book is supposed to be fun, hopefully the movie is too
“confident”, “kinda a con artist” … you mean, like Sherlock Holmes :-)?
Why do other British actors even exist any more? It’s all new role, exciting project, Cumby’s been cast. But dayuuum that top coat and hat…yes, please.
I want to know why the hell Hollywood hasn’t discovered Bertie Carvel yet.
Because he’s not a famewh*re?
He’s stereotyping himself and desperate for that Oscar. Hope he stops complaining about being typecasted now.
Also did anyone else see the Martin Freeman radio times interview? He ranted a bit about politically involved actors saying there were up themselves. Lol the dig at Cumbers was there but likely unintended on Martins part. But he’s right.
martin did ads for the labor party, didn’t he just shade himself LOL
He tends to be quite self-deprecating
nevermind lol i read it he’s quite nuanced on the issue and also talking about himself. “dig” is kinda reaching imo. i think ppl forget cumberbatch isn’t the center of freeman’s world tbh
Speaking of the WW’s, because my texts completely skipped over the Japanese-Sino part, I spent all of last night reading about the raping of Nanking last night. I know a lot of people are fascinated by Nazis and Europe, but what happened in the East was also truly horrific on every level.
Mr Sixer’s grandfather was a POW on the Burma railway.
Another bit of history I’m unaware of and slowly catching on in adulthood. Just reading a quick summary of it (will do more tonight after work), and already, it’s horrifying. It astounds me how much history was left out when I was in school. Wikipedia’s taught me more than what I could learn from “approved” curriculum the last few years.
True but those movies don’t win as many Oscars
I’d love to see a film that covers that part of history get made and get mainstream attention. I’m kind of tired of Nazi movies.
Just a few titles, more or less mainstream: King Rat and the Last Emperor, for English speaking movies. Lust, Caution, mentioned by Virginia below, is a tremendous and unsettling movie. Another Chinese film, this one about Manchurian peasants dealing with the Japanese occupier AND the communist resistance, is Devils at my Doorstep, with and by Jiang Wen. It’s as funny as it is tragic. I’m sure there’s quite a few Korean movies about the period also.
I am only familiar with The Last Emperor, but I’ll definitely add those other titles to my to-watch list.
Its sad that what happened then is kinda swept under the carpet – the Chinese suffered at the hands of the Japanese and a lot of people can’t understand why there is tension. What is also shocking is how its taught in Japanese schools, its almost glossed over.
It’s scary how some Japanese public officials outright denied anything like that ever happened. Others tried to downplay the horror. Sure, a quarter of a million people just died for no reason whatsoever.
You should watch Lust, Caution by Ang Lee. Amazing, with my boyfriend Tony Leung in it. But it’s about Chinese students that become rebels and take on the Chinese that collaborate with the Japanese. It’s a love story (sort of)….but it is SO good.
I’ll check it out, thanks!
Thanks for the suggestions Lambda and VC. My father was a WWII vet and I’ve always been interested in that period.
That film is AMAZING. I love Tony Leung.
I always laugh when I see that picture of Lord Cucumber with those glasses that don’t fit right. It makes him look like Mr. Potato Head!
Anyway, OT, can any of you lovely Britfolks (or West End groupies) recommend shows to see in London in June? Yes! I am returning for another holiday! I’ll be in Cornwall for one half of my two week stay, then London for the other half. I would like to see around 3 shows whilst there. Any input would be most helpful!!
If you like Shakespeare Kenneth Brannahs new companies tickets are te most sort after now.
Thank you! I will check into that company. I think Romeo and Juliet is playing in June (forgot where) and Nell Gywnn with Gemma Arterton looks good, too.
@Boston – i saw Nell Gywnn at the Globe this summer it was a great show, very funny. You will love it.
Also Timothy Spall is in The Caretaker by Harold Pinter at the Old Vic, i have my ticket.
The Play That Goes Wrong is the most amazing thing ever.
I’m staying well away from Branagh (too much hype, not enough daring for my taste) but I agree with The Caretaker suggestion and keep an eye on the Donmar and Almeida new seasons. They always have interesting productions.
As far as how Maskelyne created a fake Alexandria harbor, he benefited greatly from the fact that the pilots did not have GPS. German fighters were being staged out of Libya, and he went further west to set up his fake harbor. Hence, when they came across it, the Germans wouldn’t think it was fake; they would think they’d made good time. I know it sounds kooky, but the science of flight locating was not very good in those days. Nothing was automated, and there weren’t any computers, in flight radar or even ground support, so pilots just had a heading and a general idea of when things should pop up on the horizon which might differ depending on the weather conditions. He created a fake harbor — replete with ships and planes — out of cardboard, paint, burlap, etc., all the tricks of the sound stages and prop rooms, and, in the end, saved the real harbor.
Read the book — it’s amazing. Yes, he was a bit of a fibber AFTER the war, but he played it pretty much straight during. I think it’ll make for a much more complex character. Oh, and Maskelyne was besotted with his wife, so …ROMANCE. Yay!
Sounds good! I hope the script lives up to the facts.
Sounds extremely dull. Cumberbatch should do a comedy, he’s actually pretty good at comedy.
He is, but he wants to be relevant and awards-worthy, so he does Marvel for the money and war drama for the glory. No risky, funky stuff for him nowadays.