Benedict Cumberbatch to fight the Nazis in World War II film The War Magician

He will play Jasper Maskelyne in the upcoming flick

Jack Shepherd
Wednesday 09 December 2015 14:18 GMT
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Benedict Cumberbatch is among a string of 'farcical' omissions from the latest edition of Who's Who
Benedict Cumberbatch is among a string of 'farcical' omissions from the latest edition of Who's Who

Doctor Strange isn’t the only magician Benedict Cumberbatch will be playing in the near future.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Sherlock star is set to star as the famous British hero Jasper Maskelyne in The War Magician.

Based on a the ‘non-fiction’ book by David Fisher of the same name (subtitled The Incredible True Story of Jasper Maskelyne and his Magic Gang), the story follows the titular spellbinder as he uses his illusions to fool the Nazi’s in World War II.

Bob Cooper and Richard Saperstein will be producing the film which will centre on Maskelyne’s rag‐tag “dirty dozen” accomplices, dubbed “The Magic Gang”.

According to the novel, their illusions helped turn the tide against the Germans, claiming that they won the battle of El Alamein in northern Egypt by creating making a dummy army in the desert.

It is also suggested that the Magic Gang helped defeat General Rommel, winning the war for the Allies in North Africa.

By his own account, Maskelyne was soon added to Hitler’s blacklist as he passed such a danger to the Axis armies. These claims are all highly debated and he is said to have died a drunk…

In other Cumberbatch news, the actor came under fire for his role in Zoolander 2 as the transgender model 'All', with a petition created to boycott the movie gaining significant traction.

the first unofficial images of the actor as Doctor Strange in the Marvel flick have also emerged online through unofficial sources.

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