AceShowbiz -

The Weinstein Company has released a first look at Benedict Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison in upcoming movie "The Current War". The photo sees Benedict in a three-piece black suit with a bow tie standing in front of stairs in a dark room.

Directed by Alfonso Gomez Rejon ("Me & Earl & the Dying Girl") from a script by Michael Mitnick ("The Giver"), "The Current War" centers on the rivalry between Thomas and George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon) as the two men race to "create a marketable and sustainable electricity system" in 19th century America.

Basil Iwanyk ("Wind River", "Hotel Mumbai"), Timur Bekmanbetov and Harvey Weinstein serve as producers, while Benedict and Adam Ackland are executive producing.

"The Current War" also stars Katherine Waterston ("Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them"), Tom Holland ("Spider-Man: Homecoming"), Matthew Macfadyen ("Anna Karenina"), Tuppence Middleton ("The Imitation Game") and Nicholas Hoult ("X-Men Apocalypse").

Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company, said in a statement, "Edison and Westinghouse's rivalry is the ultimate tale of competition driving ingenuity. Theirs was a battle of intellect, a race of creativity and technological innovation that we see echoed in the self-made inventors dominating spaces like Silicon Valley. We're thrilled to start filming and to share this historical rivalry with audiences everywhere."

No theatrical release date has been set for "The Current War".