Benedict Cumberbatch Drops Out Of Guillermo Del Toro’s ‘Crimson Peak’

British actor Benedict Cumberbatch (Star Trek Into Darkness, War Horse) is said to have exited Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak.

The horror thriller still has Charlie Hunnam, Jessica Chastain, and Mia Wasikowska as part of the cast. The reasons for Cumberbatch’s departure are not known at this time.

There is speculation that his leaving the project is due to a conflict with another film. Cumberbatch has been very busy of late and is very in demand.

Crimson Peak, is a gothic-thriller which centers around a young author, Edit Cushing, who discovers her charming husband is not who he appears to be.

His departure at this point gives director Guillermo del Toro time to find a replacement, although the thespian’s shoes are hard to fill nowadays, but del Toro has proven to be quick to grab those who get his attention.

Mia Wasikowska was nabbed when Emma Stone also departed the project.

Benedict Cumberbatch has a full plate, he is getting ready for a few of his completed films to hit the screens.

The Fifth Estate, about Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, will kick off The Toronto International Film Festival in September, the pre-civil war drama 12 Years A Slave opens October 18, while the the star studded August: Osage County is set for Christmas Day, December 25.

He is also voicing the character, Smaug The Dragon in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug which opens December 13.

Last but not least Cumberbatch is in pre-production for The Imitation Game, in which he will portray gay cryptographer Alan Turing. Boy the man is busy!

Guillermo del Toro is scheduled to start production on Crimson Peak in January. The ghost story is set in England and del Toro has described it as shocking, kinky, gothic, and scary. He also says it is much more in tune with his Spanish films.

Whatever the reason for Benedict Cumberbatch’s departure, the one consolation is that, if you are a fan, he will literally be everywhere later this year.