Benedict Cumberbatch, who never seems to stop working (or juggling multiple projects) can be seen three times on screen within the span of 6 weeks. He just appeared in the deeply emotional TV movie The Child in Time (review), and will of course be making an appearance as Dr. Strange in the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War on April 27th. And just after that, he is starring as Patrick Melrose in Showtime's limited series of the same name, based on the novels of Edward St. Aubyn.

Each hour of the new series will focus on one of the Patrick Melrose novels, following his character over half a decade through key moments in his life, and examining his journey from an abusive childhood through substance abuse and eventually recovery. But it's not all doom and gloom -- as a new trailer highlights, the series is clever and a bit glib, with Cumberbatch's Patrick a charming rogue who pokes fun at the upper echelons in which he moves.

Check out the new trailer below, as well as some images from the series and the new poster; Patrick Melrose was adapted by David Nicholls and stars Hugo Weaving, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Anna Madeley, Allison Williams and Blythe Danner:

Here’s the official synopsis:

Based on the acclaimed Patrick Melrose series of novels written by Edward St. Aubyn and adapted by BAFTA award nominee David Nicholls (Far From the Madding Crowd, One Day), Melrose gleefully skewers the British upper class as it tracks the titular characters harrowing odyssey from a deeply traumatic childhood, through adult substance abuse and ultimately, towards recovery and redemption. Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game, Sherlock) plays Patrick Melrose, an aristocratic and outrageously funny playboy, who struggles to overcome the damage inflicted by an abusive father and a mother who tacitly condoned the behaviour.

 

A true television saga, Melrose is both gripping and humorous, with a dramatic sweep that encompasses the South of France in the 1960s, debauched 1980s New York and sober Britain in the early 2000s. Melrose will devote an hour to each of the five novels, with each episode storytelling a few complicated and intense days in Patrick’s life.

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Image via Showtime
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Image via Showtime
Image via Showtime
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Image via Showtime
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Image via Showtime
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Image via Showtime