‘Eric’: Benedict Cumberbatch Leads Cast Of 80s-Set Limited Series Thriller For Netflix

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Netflix has announced that Benedict Cumberbatch will lead the cast of ‘Eric‘, a somewhat quirky-sounding limited series thriller set in 1980s New York, about a puppeteer and his missing son.

The new thriller from Abi Morgan (‘The Hour’, ‘The Split’, ‘The Iron Lady’) follows the desperate search of a father when his nine-year-old son disappears one morning on the way to school. Vincent (Cumberbatch), one of New York’s leading puppeteers and creator of the hugely popular children’s television show, ‘Good Day Sunshine,’ struggles to cope with the loss of his son, Edgar, becoming increasingly distressed and volatile.

Full of self-loathing and guilt around Edgar’s disappearance, he clings to his son’s drawings of a blue monster puppet, Eric, convinced that if he can get Eric on TV then Edgar will come home. As Vincent’s progressively destructive behaviour alienates his family, his work colleagues, and the detectives trying to help him, it’s Eric, a delusion of necessity, who becomes his only ally in the pursuit to bring his son home.

Cumberbatch’s Vincent Anderson is described as highly intelligent, charismatic yet narcissistic, professionally volatile and privately neglectful of his wife Cassie and young son, Edgar. Joining the ‘Sherlock’ and ‘Doctor Strange’ actor on the limited series are:

Gaby Hoffmann (‘Transparent’, ‘Girls’) as Cassie. Born and raised in privilege on a farm in upstate New York, Cassie fell in love with Vincent at art college before the reality of life kicked in. A warm and loving mother to Edgar, Cassie struggles with Vincent, tired of his womanising and volatile behaviour.

Ivan Morris Howe as Edgar, an artistic yet deeply withdrawn from the world 9-year-old, who is inspired by the puppets on his father’s show ‘Good Day Sunshine’, and wants to make a puppet of his own.

Phoebe Nicholls (‘A Very British Scandal’, ‘Doctor Thorne’) as Anne Anderson, an elegant yet brittle housewife to real estate mogul Robert Anderson and mother to Vincent, who struggles to connect to her and has carved out a life in direct opposition to everything Anne and Robert aspire to be.

McKinley Belcher III (‘Ozark’, ‘The Passage’) as Detective Michael Ledroit. With twenty years in the police service, primarily spent in Vice, Ledroit is a leading detective in Missing Persons ever since he felt compelled to help the swamped division in finding missing people. Ledroit works daily to hide his sexuality and life with his long-term lover William but when his secret becomes an obstacle at work, Ledroit must choose between protecting his identity and solving a case.

David Denman (‘The Office’, ‘Mare of Easttown’) as Matteo Cripp, aka Captain Cripp, Ledroit’s eagle-eyed boss and captain of the station, has a good relationship with Ledroit and cares for him like a mentor. Edgar’s case brings media attention and pressure from above and when Ledroit believes it may be connected to missing boy Marlon Rochelle, a 14-year-old from nearly a year ago, Cripp is quick to discourage this, keen for Ledroit to close the case quickly.

Dan Fogler (‘The Walking Dead’, ‘Fantastic Beasts’ films) as Lennie Wilson, Vincent’s best friend and colleague and a brilliant puppeteer and maker in his own right. A committed bachelor, Lennie shares a strong bond with Edgar, who often comes to the workshop of ‘Good Day Sunshine’.

Roberta Colindrez (‘A League of Their Own’, ‘The Deuce’) as Ronnie, a legendary puppeteer working on ‘Good Day Sunshine’ with Vincent and Lennie, her long-standing colleagues. Ronnie is immune to Vincent’s charms which gives her a unique position to call him out with her quick, sarcastic wit.

Clarke Peters (‘The Wire’, ‘John Wick’) as George Lovett, the super of the apartment building where Edgar lives, a friendly neighbour with minimal belongings. Those he has, he treasures. His children no longer speaking to him, George befriended Edgar, letting him play in his apartment whenever his parents argued.

Bamar Kane (‘Father & Soldier’) as Yuusuf Egbe, who lives amongst the mole people underneath New York City, along disused subways. A graffiti artist, Yuusuf leaves his tag all over New York but never expected them to be noticed – especially not by a 9-year-old boy…

Alexis Molnar (‘Rise’) as Raya, a friend of Yuusuf’s, also living underneath New York City, along disused subways amongst the Mole People. Streetwise and addicted to crack cocaine, Raya knows how to use her smarts to get her next fix, but sometimes it’s at great risk to her and those around her.

Adepero Odyue (’12 Years a Slave’, ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’) as Cecile Rochelle, an African American mother whose son Marlon disappeared 11 months ago. Marlon was older than Edgar and even though the police have done very little to help find Marlon, Cecile never lets up. She has resigned herself to the idea that he is dead but still wants him found.

The series is created by BAFTA and Emmy-winner Abi Morgan OBE (‘River’, ‘Suffragette’, ‘The Split’), produced by SISTER (‘Chernobyl’, ‘This Is Going To Hurt’, ‘Landscapers’) and co-produced by Little Chick (‘The Split’). Lucy Forbes (‘The End of the F***ing World’, ‘This Is Going to Hurt’) directs the limited series.

“Eric is a dark and crazy journey into the heart of 1980’s New York, and the good bad and ugly world of Vincent, a genius puppeteer on one of America’s leading kids TV shows,” said creator, writer & Executive Producer Abi Morgan. “The chance to work with Benedict and the creative team at Sister and Netflix, is irresistible. With Lucy Forbes at the directorial helm, I feel fortunate to be working at a time of such great creativity in our industry. Fingers crossed Eric will be a welcome addition.”

Morgan, Forbes, and Cumberbatch exec produced alongside Jane Featherstone (‘Chernobyl’, ‘This Is Going To Hurt’), and Lucy Dyke (‘The Split’, ‘Black Mirror’). Holly Pullinger (‘This Is Going To Hurt’, ‘Don’t Forget The Driver’) is the producer.

“When Abi first pitched ERIC to us it gave us goosebumps,” add Jane Featherstone and Lucy Dyke. “It is an extraordinary piece of writing, inspired by Abi’s experience of New York in the mid-1980s, a city rotten to its core but on the cusp of change. She writes both a tense thriller and an intimate portrait of a delusional father searching for his child, shadowed by a monster named Eric. We are thrilled that Eric will be led by the multi-award-winning Benedict Cumberbatch and directed by the brilliant Lucy Forbes. Eric is set to be an incredibly unique and special limited series and we are overjoyed to be collaborating once more with our long-time creative partner Abi on it.”

We don’t yet have a premiere date for ‘Eric‘, but filming on commenced on the limited series in Hungary and New York. If you want to keep track of these or any other show, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.