Benedict Cumberbatch - Benedict Cumberbatch to play Brian Epstein

Benedict Cumberbatch to play Brian Epstein

Benedict Cumberbatch is to play Brian Epstein in a new biopic.

The 36-year-old actor will work alongside his 'Sherlock' director Paul McGuigan in the film about the legendary Beatles manager, who was sometimes dubbed the 'fifth Beatle'.

The film focuses on the story of Brian - who signed the band in 1961 - a closeted homosexual who suffered from drug and gambling addictions and died of an accidental overdose in 1967.

Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman are producing the project under their Playtone banner along with Simon Halfon.

The producers said of the film: [It is the story of] the man who threw the biggest party of the 1960s but ultimately forgot to invite himself.''

UTA are arranging the financing and will represent the movie for sale.

The casting news comes as more details on another film about the music manager have been released.

Author Vivek J. Tiwary is writing and producing an adaptation of his graphic novel 'The Fifth Beatle'.

The protect has secured the rights to include Beatles songs from Sony/ATV, which controls the John Lennon/Sir Paul McCartney music catalogue.