Benedict Cumberbatch: ‘Julian Assange Is A Hero’

Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in The Fifth Estate, said he believes the man is a “hero” in many ways.

The Fifth Estate focuses on the growth of WikiLeaks and is “ultimately a prologue to the case of Edward Snowden,” according to Rolling Stone. After previously stating that he didn’t think Assange would support the film, Cumberbatch said that he holds the man in high regard.

“Is he a hero? In many ways. I think that’s part of what I admire. He turned an idea into a reality – one that’s still affecting our lives and the way we view mainstream media,” Cumberbatch told Rolling Stone. “What he’s shaken up is fascinating. It’s an ongoing debate – we’ll see how it pans out – but I’m full of admiration of him.”

Daniel Bruhl, who plays WikiLeak’s spokesperson Daniel Domscheit-Berg, said that the film is more complex than it seems at first glance.

“[The film] deals with issues that concern every one of us, like freedom of information,” Bruhl said. “It’s not a black and white movie, it’s not a movie against Julian Assange and it’s not an anti-WikiLeaks film.”

At a press conference about the film last Friday, Cumberbatch told reporters he would bet that Assange would not approve of the movie.

“I’m not a betting man, but I reckon he won’t particularly want to support the film,” he said. The Golden Globe nominee also said that he wouldn’t answer questions about Assange’s current situation. He has been staying at the Ecuadorean embassy in London for over a year in an effort to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted to face sexual assault charges.

“I wouldn’t want to furnish what I think should or might happen… What I’d like to see is the man being able to carry on with his work,” Cumberbatch said.

The Fifth Estate opened the Toronto International Film Festival, and is set to be released October 18.