The 39-year-old "Sherlock" star has signed on to develop a film about suspected terrorist Mohamedou Ould Slahi, who has been imprisoned at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba without ever being charged with a crime or being able to defend himself in court.
"Guantanamo Diary", based on Slahi's memoirs, will be produced through Cumberbatch and Adam Ackland's company SunnyMarch. It will detail allegations he made about being subjected to enhanced interrogation techniques and torture.
Cumberbatch's first production project was 2013 short film "Little Favour".