The Hollywood star is unrecognizable in the new Netflix scripted film
In a film far removed from his familiar appearance, Benedict Cumberbatch is completely unrecognizable in his new film.
The Doctor Strange icon will star in the biblical comedy “The Book of Clarence” as the tramp Benjamin, who ends up having an encounter with Jesus.
Benedict, 47, couldn’t have looked any different from his time as Sherlock as he was completely ripped, with long, matted brown hair, unruly buns, and thick layers of dirt.
This doesn’t last long as he is gifted with the ability to multiply coins and goes around throwing money at others around him and grooming himself well with perfect curls and a big beard.
He is then mistaken for another Messiah and nailed to the cross, and the Romans crucify him – at least he must wash first.
The Marvel actor joins X-Men star James McAvoy, Stranger Things’ Caleb McLaughlin, and Lakeith Stanfield as Clarence.
Released last month, The Book of Clarence — Jeymes Samuel’s follow-up to the Black Western The Harder They Fall — is storming the Netflix charts, with a 68% positive critical response on Rotten Tomatoes.
In the film, Jesus is played by For Life star Nicholas Pinnock, 50, who is also part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe after starring in Captain America.
The story goes: “Struggling to find a better life, Clarence is fascinated by the power of the ascendant Christ and soon risks everything to forge a path to divine existence.”
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Nicholas said: “It was very clear that if Jesus was, you know, too comedic, or was comical in any way, then the story fell apart.” We as an audience won’t believe why Clarence would want to follow him.
“So we had to have a biblical Jesus, who was traditional in some ways, but who still had his own character and his own individuality.”
Benedict’s role is a minor one but he’s previously completely transformed himself as the titular character in The Electric Life of Louis Wain, and he’s getting old for the role.
He had shaggy white hair, a mustache, and a beard, as well as large amounts of prosthetics with aging skin.
In an interview with IndieWire, Benedict talked about playing a gay character in The Power of the Dog and Alan Turing in The Imitation Game.
“It was not done without thought,” he said. I feel very sensitive to representation, diversity and inclusion.
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