Benedict Cumberbatch Leads A24's Vatican Heist Series — Everything We Know So Far

Well, Benedict Cumberbatch clearly is not suffering from a lack of job offers. Depending on how you feel about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you might still see him as Doctor Strange—or wonder if he’s even coming back for those chaotic-sounding new Avengers titles ('Avengers: Doomsday' and 'Avengers: Secret Wars' are both on the horizon, but Marvel hasn’t confirmed his return). But honestly, Cumberbatch has plenty of other things keeping him busy right now.

Let’s focus on his latest gig, which is especially interesting if you’re into high-concept heist stories and A24’s brand of prestige TV.

The Vatican Heist Show: What We Know About 'White Smoke'

So here’s the rundown: Cumberbatch has signed on for a new A24 television show called 'White Smoke.' Not only is he starring; his own company, SunnyMarch, is producing too. Which makes sense—if you’re Benedict Cumberbatch, why not keep things in-house?

'White Smoke' isn’t just a title that sounds faintly mysterious. It actually takes place in the Vatican, right in the middle of a papal conclave (if you’re picturing cardinals in a locked room choosing a Pope, you’re correct). The plot: a bunch of con artists and thieves try to steal some of the Vatican’s most 'remarkable' treasures. So yeah, we're talking high-stakes, lots of scheming, and almost definitely a twist or ten.

One weird detail: the show is based on a novel—by someone called Nick Brucker—that technically doesn’t exist yet. The first installment of this book series won’t actually hit shelves until 2027, but Hollywood already got into a bidding war over it. It’s the kind of situation that makes you wonder if anyone in the town ever reads finished books anymore.

The Backstory on the Author

Here’s where things get extra confusing for anyone trying to keep up: 'Nick Brucker' is a pen name. The real author is Nicholas Binge—a speculative fiction writer who has apparently become a hot commodity lately. His most recent novel, 'Dissolution,' was picked as one of the best books of 2025 by the New York Times, and Sony is already adapting that for the screen. Binge/Brucker’s new Vatican heist book hasn’t even been published yet, but that hasn’t stopped it from getting snapped up in 23 territories around the world. If you’re keeping score, the guy is having a very good run.

'[White Smoke] is set among a group of duplicitous con men and thieves determined to steal the Vatican’s most remarkable treasures during a papal conclave.'
(Deadline)

The Cumberbatch Calendar

If you’re trying to keep track of everywhere Cumberbatch is popping up lately, here’s a quick reminder:

• He’s starring in a Guy Ritchie movie called 'Wife & Dog,' releasing in October.
• He’s the headline of 'Blood on Snow,' a new film from Cary Joji Fukunaga (no release date for that one yet).
• And now, of course, he’s wrapped up in the whole high-profile TV world with 'White Smoke.'

As for when you’ll actually get to watch Cumberbatch’s Vatican heist adventure, you’ll have to be patient. There’s no premiere date for the show yet—and again, the source material doesn’t even exist on bookstore shelves yet, so nobody’s rushing to make promises.

Bottom line: Cumberbatch stays busy, A24 keeps hunting for projects that sound cooler than everything else on TV, and apparently the world can’t wait for a Vatican heist thriller, even if the book it’s based on hasn’t arrived.