Wes Anderson to Direct Roald Dahl Adaptation for Netflix

Wes Anderson is directing a new film for Netflix based on Roald Dahl's 'The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More,' a 1977 collection of seven short works. The lead role of Henry Sugar will be played by Benedict Cumberbatch. The cast also includes Dev Patel, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Richard Ayoade, and Rupert Friend. The story centers on the true archaeological discovery of the Mildenhall Treasure in 1942, when farmer Gordon Butcher and his employer Sidney Ford unearthed a hoard of 4th-century Roman silver vessels in a field. Ford kept the treasure as a table service without reporting it, but a sharp-eyed guest recognized the antiquity of the pieces, which are now part of the British Museum's collection. Anderson previously adapted Dahl's 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' in 2009. Netflix secured rights to Dahl's entire catalog last autumn for $1 billion, covering 16 works including 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and 'Matilda,' which are in development as a series and a musical, respectively. The film's structure is not yet confirmed; sources suggest it may consist of three mini-films. Anderson's signature style—symmetrical lines, pastel palettes—has also manifested in design projects like Bar Luce at Fondazione Prada in Milan and a 1920s train carriage for Belmond.