Benedict Cumberbatch Teams With Sherlock Director for Beatles Manager Biopic

Somebody tell Benedict Cumberbatch that all he needs is love.

According to THR, the Sherlock star and up-and-coming actor is set to play Beatles manager Brian Epstein in a biopic about his life. Todd Graff wrote the script, which THR describes as follows:

Sometimes called the 'fifth Beatle,' Epstein signed the band in 1961 -- before Beatlemania hit -- and died in 1967 from an accidental drug overdose. He was a closet homosexual and suffered from gambling and drug addictions -- and was many times the glue that held the band together. The producers describe the project as the story of “the man who threw the biggest party of the 1960s but ultimately forgot to invite himself.

Tom Hanks is getting back in the music game after writing, starring in, and directing That Thing You Do! by producing this film, which is currently untitled, and the project will reunite Cumberbatch with his Sherlock director Paul McGuigan (who also helmed the underrated Lucky Number Slevin), as McGuigan will be seated in the director's chair here.

But as is true of most projects in Hollywood, another rival project dealing with the same subject matter is in development elsewhere. That project, reportedly called The Fifth Beatle, has secured rights to The Beatles' library of songs, something this untitled film does not have access to...yet. But perhaps they won't need that music, as the project is supposed to center around Epstein and not the Fab Four anyway. With McGuigan and Cumberbatch on board here, this one is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Interested?