Wes Anderson’s ‘Henry Sugar’ Trailer Combines Roald Dahl and Benedict Cumberbatch to Irresistible Extremes

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as a rich London bachelor in the trailer for Wes Anderson’s upcoming short film “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.”

Adapted from a collection of short stories, titled “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More,” by acclaimed children’s fiction writer Roald Dahl, Anderson’s film premiered out of competition at the Venice Film Festival this year — prompting a four-minute ovation — and will release on Netflix on Sept. 27.

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“It’s hard to say whether Wes Anderson’s sensibility is perfectly suited to that of Roald Dahl or the other way around,” wrote Peter Debruge in his review out of Venice.

Based on the real-life tale of mystic Kuda Bux, Dahl’s “Henry Sugar” story follows a gambler who learns the art of meditation in hopes of learning to see through playing cards. Anderson’s 37-minute pastel adaptation also stars Ben Kingsley, Richard Ayoade, Dev Patel, Ralph Fiennes and Rupert Friend. The film marks the second time Anderson adapted Dahl’s work for the screen, following his 2009 film “Fantastic Mr. Fox.”

“I knew Roald Dahl since before we made ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox,’” Anderson previously told IndieWire. “I met Lindsay Dahl, his widow, when we were shooting ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ like 20 years ago. For years I wanted to do ‘Henry Sugar.’ They set this story aside for me because I was friends with them. Lindsay kind of handed the torch to Luke, Dahl’s grandson. So I had this waiting for me. But I really couldn’t figure out the approach. I knew what I liked in the story was the writing of it, Dahl’s words. I couldn’t find the answer, and then suddenly I did.”

Anderson also explained that by the time he was ready to shoot the film, the Dahl family had sold the rights to the entire Roald Dahl Story Company, including “Henry Sugar,” to Netflix.

Watch the trailer below.

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