Benedict Cumberbatch Cast in New Escape Thriller From BAFTA-Winning Director

Benedict Cumberbatch is set to headline an upcoming thriller film, a new feature from BAFTA-winning filmmaker Babak Anvari. The project, titled Last Flight, which will shoot across multiple countries later this year, centers on a dangerous escape mission. 

Last Flight adds Benedict Cumberbatch to cast

Benedict Cumberbatch has joined the cast of the upcoming thriller Last Flight. The film is set against the backdrop of the final days of the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to Deadline, the project will be directed by Babak Anvari. Meanwhile, the screenplay will be written by Kirk Wallace Johnson, whose real-world work inspired the story.

After serving as a USAID coordinator during reconstruction efforts in Fallujah, Johnson later launched the List Project to help relocate Iraqis who had supported allied troops. He subsequently collaborated with Senator Ted Kennedy to develop the Special Immigrant Visa program for Iraqi and Afghan nationals who had assisted the United States during the conflicts.

Last Flight follows Ali, a young Afghan man racing to save his family as he seeks a route out of the country. He places his faith in Kirk Johnson, an American thousands of miles away. Johnson is struggling to move past the war.

Production is expected to begin in May 2026, with shoots planned in the United Kingdom, Morocco, and Jordan. The film is backed by Two & Two and Cumberbatch’s SunnyMarch. Lucan Toh and Babak Anvari are producing for Two & Two, with Leah Clarke and Adam Ackland producing for SunnyMarch. Cumberbatch will also serve as an executive producer, alongside Dave Bishop, George Hamilton, and James Pugh of Protagonist Pictures.

Two & Two and SunnyMarch said in statement, “Last Flight is a moving, wild ride that is also a galvanising call to action: it reminds us that, even if you’re on the other side of the world and all you have is a phone, an internet connection, and a desire to help, you can make a difference.” 

Source: Comingsoon.net