Benedict Cumberbatch is moving forward with his plans to finally bring rogue male to the screen.
The actor confirmed that the adaptation is still underway and that he hopes to begin filming in 2026, years after first announcing the project.
Cumberbatch and his company SunnyMarch revealed in 2016 that they planned to adapt Geoffrey Household’s classic novel, but the film has not yet entered production.
Talking about the Intelligent On the podcast with Sean Hayes, Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, Cumberbatch shared an update, saying, “We don’t have a filming date yet, but it’s something we’re trying to schedule for next year. We’ll definitely get it done.”
The actor hinted that scheduling conflicts are a factor and joked about “other big commitments involving floating capes,” strongly suggesting he’ll return as doctor strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Rogue Male was first published in 1939 and tells the story of an unnamed English hunter who attempts to assassinate a European dictator believed to be Adolf Hitler.
After being captured and tortured, he manages to escape back to England, only to be pursued by enemy agents and his own government.
Cumberbatch described the book as “the original fugitive novel and a great inspiration to Ian Fleming for Bond.”
He said that when he and his team first discussed adapting it, they wondered if it was “a guy’s movie.” But as they delved deeper into the themes and character’s journey, it became clear how relevant the story still is today.
He explained that the thriller’s ideas about betrayal and politics are “fascinating because of how they fit into the political spectrum of what’s happening in the world right now.”
When the project was first revealed, writer Michael Lesslie was hired to write the script, and the film was assembled at Fox Searchlight with Cumberbatch in the lead role.
The novel has been adapted before, including a 1977 BBC version starring Peter O’Toole and a 1940 film titled man hunt.
