First Photo Of Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange Released

I don't know enough about the Wikileaks thing to have a worthwhile opinion on the subject (not that ignorance should keep people from opining as loudly as possible). The rebellious aspects of it appeal to me, for sure, but I'm certain it's a lot more complicated than simply an exercise in damning the man. One thing I know for sure: I resent how Julian Assange forces me to speak in a snooty French accent every time I say his stupid name out loud.

Principal photography has begun on Bill Condon's The Fifth Estate, and EW released this first image from the film featuring Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange and that twerp from Inglourious Basterds as Rafe Spall. The film will supposedly be one of those movies where the bright eyed kid becomes a corrupt bastard.

As the film comes together it will surely evolve into its own thing, but when first look photos from biopics come out, I always feel like I'm looking at screenshots from Funny or Die or Mr. Show sketches or something. I also get bummed out whenever Cumberbatch is in a new movie because it will only be that much longer before we get a new season of Sherlock.

The Fifth Estate will open on November 15. Don't torrent it early, dramatically appropriate as that may be.