Benedict Cumberbatch: no Star Wars or Doctor Who, but a licence to thrill? | Media Monkey

Another day, another Benedict Cumberbatch casting rumour. The Sherlock star had been linked to a role in JJ Abrams' new Star Wars movie, but shot down hopes on the weekend when he told fans at the Oz Comic Con "I would've liked a part in JJ's [Abrams] new Star Wars but it won't happen sadly." He also told the audience that he's unlikely to appear in Doctor Who: "I'm never gonna play the Doctor and nothing to do with the Whoniverse." Now Hollywood blog The Tracking Board claims he has been offered the starring role in an Ian Fleming biopic detailing the origin stories of James Bond. Monkey hopes the rumour turns out to be true – Cumberbatch could certainly carry off wearing Fleming's trademark bow tie. With film work and a role playing Hamlet at London's Barbican already lined up for next year, it looks like there may be a wait for the next series of Sherlock. Indeed Cumberbatch continues to be coy about whether series four will happen at all, telling the Radio Times "I genuinely don't know. That's not me trying to be mysterious. None of us know if there will be a fourth, fifth or sixth series."