It appears Benedict Cumberbatch has thrown his hat in the ring for next year's Oscars, playing Alan Turing in the forthcoming drama The Imitation Game. The movie tells the story of the legendary code-breaker and his team at Bletchley Park, who raced against time to break the German's Enigma code during World War II.

Benedict CumberbatchBenedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing in 'The Imitation Game'

Turing's genius in cracking the code is attributed to the premature end of World War II and his work is said to have helped saved thousands of life. 

However, Turing's life was both heroic and tragic and he would eventually be prosecuted for homosexuality before undergoing treatment with oestrogen injections as an alternative to prison. He died in 1954 in what many believe to have been suicide.

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Cumberbatch has turned in some excellent performances in recent years, most notably as Julian Assange in the otherwise forgettable The Fifth Estate and, of course, as Sherlock Holmes in the BBC's drama. However, The Imitation Game trailer appears to suggest that the 38-year-old from Hammersmith may well have found his defining role. Should the movie stand up alognside Benedict's turn - and it should considering its cast also includes Mathew Goode, Mark Strong, Keira Knightley and Rory Kinnear - then this could be very special indeed.

Benedict CumberbatchKeira Knightley [L] and Benedict Cumberbatch [centre] in 'The Imitation Game'

The Imitation Game will open the 58th London Film Festival on October 8, before opening in cinemas in the UK on November 24, 2014. The Weinstein Company is handling distribution for this one - which could be ominous for the its Oscar rivals come early 2015.

Watch the trailer for The Imitation Game: