Benedict Cumberbatch & Will Poulter On For War Drama The Yellow Birds

Lots of new movies have been announced at Cannes and now it’s time for one more, with THR reporting that Benedict Cumberbatch, Tye Sheridan, and Will Poulter will star in The Yellow Birds, with David Lowery directing.

The film is an adaptation of Iraq veteran Kevin Powers’ modern war novel about ‘two soldiers, 21-year-old Private Bartle and 18-year old Private Murphy, who meet in boot camp. Bartle made a promise to Murphy’s mother to guide him home safely and takes the young private under his wing, but soon finds that promise hard to keep as they navigate a war where casual atrocity is a daily occurrence.’

Tom Wolfe has referred to the book as “All Quiet on the Western Front for America’s Arab wars.”

It’s not 100% clear who the actors will play, as Variety suggests it’ll be Cumberbatch and Sheridan as the young soldiers, but Benedict seems a lot old at 37 to play a 21-year-old. It’s more likely Sheridan and Poulter will be the young men, leaving Cumberbatch as an older soldier (presumably their CO).