Mark Strong Joins Alan Turing Biopic Imitation Game As It Starts Shooting

After being in development for years, the biopic of gay computing pioneer and codebreaker Alan Turing, The Imitation Game, finally started shooting in the UK yesterday. With that news came info that the likes of Mark Strong and Charles Dance have joined the cast.

Turing is a pioneer of modern-day computing who credited with helping crack the fiendish German codes, such as Enigma, during the Second World War. The film will chronicle the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team at Britain’s top-secret code-breaking center, Bletchley Park.

Turing, whose contributions and genius significantly shortened the war, saving thousands of lives, was the eventual victim of an unenlightened British Establishment, who prosecuted him for being gay and forced him to agree to be chemically castrated.

Tragically Turing admitted to the police he was gay while reporting a robbery, believing they would protect him and catch those who’d stolen from him. Instead it was him who found himself in court. After he was convicted he was shunned by the establishment and despite he incredible mind he found himself pushed to the sideline. He committed suicide (although some say it was an accident) not too long afterwards.

As what he’d done during the war was a state secret, it took decades for him to get the public credit he is due.

Benedict Cumberbatch takes the lead role in The Intimidation Game, with Keira Knightley as Turing’s friend and fellow code-breaker Joan Clarke (the author of the book the film is based on has already criticised the film as he believes the script overplays their relationship. Also starring are Matthew Goode, Mark Strong, Rory Kinnear, Charles Dance, Allen Leech and Matthew Beard ).

Norwegian filmmaker Morten Tyldum (Headhunters), is directing from a screenplay by Graham Moore, based on the book Alan Turing: The Enigm” by Andrew Hodges.