Benedict Cumberbatch On ‘The Fifth Estate’: ‘Julian Assange Is Not Going To Approve’
According to Benedict Cumberbatch who portrays Julian Assange in The Fifth Estate, he “is not going to approve” of the new film. Assange is the founder of the whislteblowing website Wikileaks, which exposed government secrets.
At the press conference to answer questions about the film on Friday, Cumberbatch told reporters that he’ll bet that Assange doesn’t endorse the film.
“I’m not a betting man, but I reckon he won’t particularly want to support the film,” he said.
However, Cumberbatch, who is known for speaking his mind on political matters, would not answer questions as to what his opinion is about Assange’s current predicament.
The Wikileaks founder has been staying at the Ecuadorean embassy in London for over a year, in an effort to avoid extradition to Sweden in which he is wanted to face sexual assault charges.
“I wouldn’t want to furnish what I think should or might happen,” Benedict Cumberbatch said at a press conference held on the morning after The Fifth Estate world premiere.
“It’s to do with dealings behind closed doors for all of us, and I don’t have access to any perspective or information that would shine a light on some certain truth.
What I’d like to see is the man being able to carry on with his work,” he went on, in response to a question posed by the BBC News website.” Cumberbatch added.
When asked about his status of “man of the festival”, he modestly downplayed the suggestion saying that there are many other talented actors presenting films in Toronto.
Cumberbatch appears in three films that are being showcased at TIIF, The Fifth Estate, 12 Years A Slave, and August: Osage County, making him one of the most visible names at the event.
“There are lots of other amazing men at this festival, some of whom are seated on this table,” he continued. “But I’m flattered at the same time.”
The Fifth Estate, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Brülh (Rush), and former Downton Abbey star, Dan Stevens.
