Benedict Cumberbatch Joins Steve McQueen’s ‘Twelve Years A Slave’

British actor Benedict Cumberbatch has risen to international fame within the past couple of years between his roles in films like 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' and his star-making turn in Steven Moffat's 'Sherlock.' Now that everyone knows what Cumberbatch's acting chops are made of (or will when 'Star Trek 2' comes out), they're going to be put to the test in the next Steve McQueen drama.

Variety reports that Cumberbatch is the latest addition to the stellar cast of McQueen's latest movie 'Twelve Years A Slave.' In it, Cumberbatch will play a plantation owner who finds a free man (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and buys him as a slave. The picture has a great cast that includes Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt. The story is based off of the nonfiction book written by Solomon Northup.

It's nice to see Cumberbatch take on roles in both mainstream and arthouse cinema. His performance in last year's Oscar-nominated 'Tinker Tailor' proves that he can act with veterans like Gary Oldman. And you can't deny his charisma and great skill as the famous Sherlock Holmes. So the possibility of seeing him share the screen alongside Michael Fassbender under the watchful eye of Steve McQueen makes us giddy with excitement. Who wouldn't want to see a couple of the biggest acting names out there in the same movie?