Benedict Cumberbatch (46) could possibly get his next leading role shortly. The British actor is in advanced negotiations for the new Netflix miniseries “Eric”. This is reported by the industry magazine “Variety”, citing anonymous sources. Netflix has therefore declined to comment on the report.

The six planned episodes will focus on the character Vincent Sullivan, to be played by Cumberbatch. He was a puppeteer in the most popular US children’s show and also made the figures. The now homeless and apparently drug addict Sullivan has to search for his missing son Edgar in New York in the 1980s. Only Eric, a blue doll more than two meters tall, is at his side.

It is not yet clear who could appear alongside the Brit and when the miniseries is to appear. The actor was celebrated in many places in 2018 for his role in the mini-series “Patrick Melrose”, in which Cumberbatch embodies the eponymous main character who struggles with alcohol and drug addiction. In 2019 he received the award for Best Actor at the British Academy Television Awards for the role.