The Netflix limited series directed by Benedict Cumberbatch ‘Eric’ completes the main cast

Netflix’s limited series “Eric,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch, has completed its main cast, Variety has learned.

Variety exclusively reported that Cumberbatch would star in the six-episode series in January. Joining him now: Gaby Hoffmann, McKinley Belcher III, Dan Fogler, Clarke Peters, Ivan Morris Howe, Phoebe Nicholls, David Denman, Bamar Kane, Adepero Odyue, Alexis Molnar and Roberta Colindrez.

Full character descriptions can be seen below.

According to the official tagline, the series is set in the 1980s in New York. The show follows “a father’s desperate search when his nine-year-old daughter disappears one morning on her way to school. Vincent (Cumberbatch), one of New York’s leading puppeteers and creator of the popular children’s television show ‘Good Day Sunshine,’ struggles to cope with the loss of his son, Edgar (Howe), becoming increasingly distraught and unstable. . Filled with self-loathing and guilt over Edgar’s disappearance, he clings to his son’s drawings of a blue monster puppet, Eric, convinced that if he can get Eric on TV, then Edgar will come home. As Vincent’s increasingly destructive behavior alienates his family, his co-workers, and the detectives trying to help him, it is Eric, a delusion of need, who becomes his only ally in his quest to bring his son home. house”.

Filming for the series is already underway, and will be shot in Hungary and New York. It was originally announced in November 2021 as part of the Anne Mensah roster. Abi Morgan created the series and serves as an executive producer. Cumberbatch will executive produce as well as star. Sister’s Jane Featherstone and Lucy Dyke will also executive produce, with Lucy Forbes (“The End of the F***ing World,” “This Is Going to Hurt”) serving as director and executive producer. Executive Producer for Morgan through Little Chick. Holly Pullinger will produce.

“‘Eric’ is a dark and wacky journey into the heart of 1980s New York, and the good, bad and ugly world of Vincent, a genius puppeteer on one of America’s top kids’ TV shows,” Morgan said. “The opportunity to work with Benedict and the creative team at Sister and Netflix is ​​irresistible. With Lucy Forbes at the helm, I feel lucky to be working at a time of so much creativity in our industry. Fingers crossed that ‘Eric’ is a welcome addition.”

“When Abi introduced us to ‘Eric’ for the first time, we got goosebumps,” Featherstone and Dyke said. “This is extraordinary writing, inspired by Abi’s experience in New York in the mid-1980s, a city rotten to the core but on the cusp of change. She writes both a tense thriller and an intimate portrait of a delusional father searching for his son, in the shadow of a monster named Eric. We are delighted that ‘Eric’ stars the multi-award winning Benedict Cumberbatch and is directed by the brilliant Lucy Forbes. ‘Eric’ is set to become an incredibly unique and special limited series and we are delighted to once again collaborate with our longtime creative partner Abi.”

character descriptions

Vincent Anderson (Benedict Cumberbatch)

Vincent, one of New York’s leading puppeteers and puppeteers, is the creator of the popular children’s television show Good Day Sunshine. Highly intelligent, charismatic but narcissistic, Vincent is professionally volatile and privately neglects his wife Cassie and his young son, Edgar.

Cassie Anderson (Gaby Hoffman)

Cassie, born and raised on a farm in upstate New York, fell in love with Vincent in art college before the reality of life set in. A warm and loving mother to Edgar, Cassie struggles with Vincent, tired of his womanizing and volatile behavior. .

Detective Michael Ledroit (McKinley Belcher III)

Twenty years in the police service, mostly spent with VICE, Ledroit has been a leading detective on MISSING PERSONS ever since he felt compelled to help the overstretched division find missing persons. Ledroit works daily to hide his sexuality and his life with his lover William, but when his secret becomes an obstacle at work, Ledroit must choose between protecting his identity or solving a case. .

Lennie Wilson (Dan Fogler)

Lennie Wilson, Vincent’s best friend and colleague and a brilliant puppeteer and creator in his own right. A committed bachelor, Lennie shares a strong bond with Edgar, who often comes to the Good Day Sunshine workshop.

George Lovett (Clarke Peters)

George Lovett, the manager of the apartment building where Edgar lives, is a friendly neighbor with few belongings. The ones he has, he treasures. Since his children no longer spoke to him, George befriended Edgar and let him play in his apartment whenever his parents argued.

Edgar Anderson (Ivan Morris Howe)

Edgar, an artistic but deeply withdrawn 9-year-old boy, is inspired by the puppets in his father’s Good Day Sunshine show, a hit children’s puppet show, and wishes to make his own puppet.

Anne Anderson (Phoebe Nicholls)

Anne is a graceful but brittle housewife to real estate mogul Robert Anderson and mother to Vincent, who struggles to connect with her and has forged a life in direct opposition to everything Anne and Robert aspire to be.

Matteo Cripp (David Denman)

Captain Cripp, Ledroit’s eagle-eyed boss and station captain, has a good relationship with Ledroit and cares for him like a mentor. Edgar’s case attracts media attention and pressure from above and when Ledroit believes he may be linked to missing child Marlon Rochelle, a 14-year-old boy from almost a year ago, Cripp is quick to discourage this, eager to that Ledroit close the case quickly.

Yuusuf Egbe (Bamar Kane)

Yuusuf Egbe lives among the moles below New York City, along the disused subways. A graffiti artist, Yuusuf leaves his tag all over New York, but he never expected to be noticed, especially for a 9-year-old boy.

Cécile Rochelle as Adepero Odyue

Cecilie is an African American mother whose son Marlon disappeared 11 months ago. Marlon was older than Edgar, and while the police have done very little to help find Marlon, Cecile never gives up. She has resigned herself to the idea that he is dead, but she still wants him to be found.

Stripe (Alexis Molnar)

Raya is a friend of Yuusuf’s and also lives below New York City, along the disused subways among the mole people. Cunning and addicted to crack, Raya knows how to use her intelligence to get her next fix, but sometimes she puts herself and those around her at great risk.

Ronnie (Roberta Colindrez)

Ronnie is a legendary puppeteer who works at Good Day Sunshine with Vincent and Lennie, his former colleagues. Ronnie is immune to Vincent’s charms, which gives her a unique position to call him out with his sarcastic quick wit.

(Pictured: Gaby Hoffmann, McKinley Belcher III, Phoebe Nicholls)