A24 Secures Rights to 'White Smoke' Novel for TV Adaptation Starring Benedict Cumberbatch

A24 Secures Rights to 'White Smoke' Novel for TV Adaptation Starring Benedict Cumberbatch

A24 UK has won a competitive bidding process involving more than a dozen production companies to secure adaptation rights to Nick Brucker's forthcoming novel White Smoke. The acclaimed actor Benedict Cumberbatch will both star in and produce the television series through his SunnyMarch production company, alongside A24.

The heist thriller, scheduled for publication in 2027, follows a band of cunning swindlers and criminals as they orchestrate an audacious scheme to plunder the Vatican's most priceless artifacts during a papal conclave. The novel's intricate plot centers on the intersection of crime, deception, and religious intrigue as the perpetrators navigate the complexities of their high-stakes operation.

This marks a significant collaboration between the streaming and production powerhouse and Cumberbatch's production banner, which has established itself as a prominent force in developing premium television content.