By Sanne Bergh

Benedict Cumberbatch has agreed to be apart of TV adaptation Richard III alongside fellow British star Judi Dench.

Cumberbatch to star in Richard III

Cumberbatch seems to be identified as sort of a “Shakespearian actor” and being apart of Richard III is not unlike many of his other roles. He had been pursuing Dench to star in the film with him. His persistence with the Oscar-winning actress seems to affirm my suspicions that Cumberbatch is what we lurkers like to call an “Oscar hunter” who attempts to acquire “Oscar-baited” productions. Cumberbatch is networking. He’s getting in cahoots with high-profile actors and actresses to make a name for himself. He might not be doing it outwardly purposefully, but his publicist might have said a couple of things..

Cumberbatch asks Dench to star in Richard III

In addition to his recent public question to Dench, he had also read love letters out loud at a literature event, promoting his appreciation for all things literary and smart. Seems a bit a high-brow to me. High-brow enough that he’s just trying to jack up his reputation and making himself more of a likely candidate for Oscar-baited productions.

Cumberbatch reads love letters during 2014 Hays Festival

“Driving the self-proclaimed “Cumberb***es” wild with his animated recital of a series of love letters between World War II Signalman Chris Barker and his sweetheart Bessie Moore, he also read the tragic letter written by explorer Robert Scott to his wife on knowing he was going to die on his Antarctic mission in 1912.”– The Independent

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Depp, the perpetual mobster

Cumberbatch, as I mentioned in my previous blog post, is a high-brow, branded actor. He recently accepted a role in a film to be released next year about an FBI witness protection program. While he does accept roles that are to portray him as a chivalrous gentlemen, he’s pairing up with the dynamic Johnny Depp to do something leaning more towards the mob crime genre. In this film, Cumberbatch will be playing a Bostonian in the late 1970s. Apparently, Cumberbatch replaced Guy Pierce, who some IMBD commenters feel would have been a better choice. It seems as though a Boston-accent would be difficult to master when he’s justso British. They don’t think he’s the right fit for the role, so would that make Cumberbatch the wrong choice? Possibly.

Leonardo Dicaprio: Takes Oscar-baited roles but never wins an Oscar. Examples include: Django Unchained, Wolf of Wallstreet, Titanic, too many to name.

I think many dynamic actors go outside their comfort zone, which is why we see Cumberbatch taking a challenging role. Richard III? That’s very much in his comfort zone. It’s possible that Black-Mass might be Oscar-baited the same way 12 years a Slave was. Just an FYI, everyone knew that film was going to get an Oscar, since it would probably be considered a bit culturally insensitive to not give a well-made film about slavery an award. i.e. Oscar baited.

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It’s fascinating that Cumberbatch will be starring alongside Depp, who has all the experience with mob films, like Donnie Brasco and Public Enemies. It’s easy to see Cumberbatch making strides in his career as he takes on more difficult roles. I give him three years before he gets nominated for something.

Cumberbatch wants an Oscar, too.