Benedict Cumberbatch & Laura Dern Cast In Futuristic Drama Movie Morning

Benedict Cumberbatch and Laura Dern have been cast in an upcoming film by director Justin Kurzel, titled Morning. Cumberbatch joins the film coming off the back of the mega-blockbuster Spider-Man: No Way Home and a performance in The Power of The Dog that is being praised by critics as one of the best of his career. Dern recently starred in hit dramas such as Greta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation of Little Women and Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story. Dern received nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her role in both films, going on to win the Academy Award in the category for her performance Marriage Story, which she starred in with Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver.

Now, Deadline reports that Cumberbatch and Dern have signed on to roles in Kurzel’s new film, Morning. The sci-fi film is set in the near future, revolving around the concept of a human society where the need for sleep has been removed due to artificial sunlight and a new medication. Morning will focus on Dern’s Cathy, who is a supporter of the advancements until the death of her husband Frank, played by Cumberbatch. Morning will deal with the repercussions of technological and social changes on Cathy and her son (played by A Quiet Place star Noah Jupe), while also exploring the power of dreams and what is lost with their absence. The film is currently in the early stages of development and doesn’t yet have a release date.

The sci-fi premise of Morning won’t be a first for either Cumberbatch or Dern, who both have experience in the genre having starred in both the Star Trek and Star Wars franchises, respectively. Kurzel’s previous work as a director includes the Michael Fassbender-led Macbeth and Assassin’s Creed, and he will soon have Morning on his list of credits. Since his directorial debut in 2005, Kurzel has worked with big budgets and big names like Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, and Judy Davis, and with just six feature film credits to his name, has broadly received positive reception to his work. With more of the Morning cast and plot details yet to be revealed, the film is already shaping up to be a unique and star-studded new story.