WES ANDERSON has signed on to direct an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch for Netflix. Sources also note Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel and Ben Kingsley have joined the cast, with production expected to start this month in London.

First published in 1977, “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More” is a collection of seven short stories crafted by British author Dahl for older children. Cumberbatch will play Henry Sugar, the protagonist of the titular story, which poses the question: “If you could see with your eyes closed, would you use your power for good or for personal gain?”

The new movie marks Anderson’s second outing with Dahl’s classic works after the filmmaker crafted “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” into a stop-motion film in 2009 and co-wrote the screenplay with Noah Baumbach.

Most recently, Cumberbatch has garnered Oscar buzz for his leading performance as Phil Burbank in Jane Campion’s adaptation of the acclaimed novel “The Power of the Dog.” He was previously nominated for best actor for 2014’s “The Imitation Game.”

News of the project follows the streamer’s acquisition of the Roald Dahl Story Company in September 2021, when plans were announced for the development of an extensive universe of animated and live-action film and television projects (including a series based on the world of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” from Taika Waititi and Phil Johnston), as well as publishing, games, immersive experiences, live theater and consumer products.(SD-Agencies)