We first heard about The Current War way back in 2014, but a lot has changed since then. The Thomas Edison biopic has been languishing for awhile, with a first look at Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead role arriving in January, 2017. A trailer washed up several months later in September, 2017. Now, a few years removed, we’re finally getting news that the movie has an official release date.
Newly formed 101 Studios has announced the release date of the studio’s debut film release The Current Wars. The film’s limited release begins on October 4, 2019 followed by wide release on October 11, 2019. The Current War is the epic story of the cutthroat competition that literally lit up the modern world.
Benedict Cumberbatch is Thomas Edison, the celebrity inventor on the verge of bringing electricity to Manhattan. On the eve of triumph, his plans are upended by charismatic businessman George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon), who believes he and his partner, the upstart genius Nikolai Tesla (Nicholas Hoult), have a superior idea for how to rapidly electrify America.
Related: Benedict Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison Revealed in The Current War
As Edison and Westinghouse grapple for who will power the nation, they spark one of the first and greatest corporate feuds in American history. Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) with executive producer Martin Scorsese, The Current War also stars Katherine Waterston, Tom Holland, Matthew Macfadyen and Tuppence Middleton.
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon is directing The Current War from a script by Michael Mitnick. Timur Bekmambetov and Basil Iwanyk are producing alongside executive producers Martin Scorsese, Steven Zaillian, Garrett Basch, Michael Mitnick, Ann Ruark, Michele Wolkoff, Benedict Cumberbatch and Adam Ackland.
Three brilliant visionaries set off in a charged battle for the future in The Current War, the epic story of the cutthroat competition that literally lit up the modern world. Benedict Cumberbatch is Thomas Edison, the celebrity inventor on the verge of bringing electricity to Manhattan with his radical new DC technology.
On the eve of triumph, his plans are upended by charismatic businessman George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon), who believes he and his partner, the upstart genius Nikolai Tesla (Nicholas Hoult), have a superior idea for how to rapidly electrify America: with AC current. As Edison and Westinghouse grapple for who will power the nation, they spark one of the first and greatest corporate feuds in American history, establishing for future Titans of Industry the need to break all the rules.
While we got a look at Benedict Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison more than two years ago, 101 Studios has sent along a new image of the actor in character. This latest update on the movie comes direct from 101 Studios. The release for select theaters on October 4, 2019 followed by the everywhere rollout on October 11, 2019 sets up the movie for a prime awards season run. Will it have what it takes to compete come Oscar time? Take a look at Edison in action as The Current War begins.
