Deadline (and others) has reported Benedict Cumberbatch will star in a new limited series based on John Buchan’s The 39 Steps

Since John Buchan’s novel was published in 1915, it has been widely adapted, including a classic movie in 1955 by Alfred Hitchcock. It’s been in numerous films (including a BBC version in 2008 starring Rupert Penry-Jones), and various stage plays. This is the first time it will be presented as a series. According to the Deadline report, Edward Berger (who worked on Patrick Melrose with Cumberbatch) will direct and the scripts are by Mark L Smith (who recently scripted Clooney’s Midnight Sky).

Cumberbatch is also reported as being an executive producer as well as taken the part of Richard Hannay, the man who becomes caught up in an international web of intrigue who has to find the 39 steps to preserve the world as we know it. It’s much to early for any other casting and we’ve no details on how the adaptation will work — will it retain the original pre-World War I setting or be brought up to date? The story is more than a century old now and perhaps it’s time for a contemporary setting?

As ever we’ll bring you more news on The 39 Steps series as and when we find out.