Tom Hiddleston Got Benedict Cumberbatch’s Blessing Before Joining ‘Crimson Peak’

Tom Hiddleston just joined Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak replacing one of his pals, Benedict Cumberbatch, who exited the project last month for unknown reasons.

The pair are good friends in real life, so not hard feelings. Actually Tom called Ben to let him know he was going to accept del Toro’s offer before doing so.

Tom Hiddleston, who is currently at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) promoting his romantic film, Only Lovers Left Alive, says of his decision to join del Toro’s film,

“As these things do, they sent me the script about two weeks ago and it was a very new draft,” Hiddleston explained. “I know Mia [Wasikowska], who I’ll be playing with very closely, and I know Jessica Chastain very well. I’ve met Guillermo before. And we are all admirers of each others’ stuff. And everyone said yes! I’m really, really excited about it. I’ll be shooting here in Toronto in February.”

Tom Hiddleston told Buzzfeed on Friday that he and Benedict Cumberbatch are really good friends and as soon as he got the script he called him to tell him what was going on.

He says, Benedict was very excited for him and said, “Amazing!” So Tom had his friend’s blessing to join the project and once that was the case everything else fell into place.

Cumberbatch has been rumored to be considering a role in J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII, but the speculation has been shot down by his rep.

However, his departure from Crimson Peak is too coincidental not to suspect he could be thinking about joining the franchise. Cumberbatch has made it no secret that he is not a Trekkie, but a die hard Star Wars follower.

For now, two of the hottest British actors at the moment, Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch seem to be enjoying the wave that has brought them to the top of the A-list.