Oscar nominee
Benedict Cumberbatch has joined the cast of the upcoming fact-based thriller
"Last Flight" directed by BAFTA-winner
Babak Anvari (
"Under The Shadow") from a script
Kirk Wallace Johnson, a former USAID coordinator who also founded the "List Project" to relocate Iraqi/Afghan allies.
Based on true events, the film unfolds over the final days of a twenty-year war, and it follows Ali, a young Afghan man, who is fighting for his entire family's life to find safe passage out of Afghanistan, before he is sent to certain death. To reach the border, he must put his trust in Kirk Johnson (Cumberbatch), an American stranger 7,000 miles away who is desperately trying to put the war behind him.
Filming is set to start May 2026 in the UK, Morocco and Jordan. The film is produced by
Lucan Toh and
Babak Anvari via Two & Two (
"I Came By") and Cumberbatch's SunnyMarch (
"We Live In Time"). Executive producers also include
Dave Bishop, George Hamilton and
James Pugh from Protagonist Pictures. WME Independent is representing U.S. distribution rights.
Protagonist Pictures CEO
Dave Bishop had this to say about the project:
"'Last Flight' is a rare thriller that combines relentless edge of your seat tension with profound humanity. Babak Anvari brings extraordinary urgency and compassion to this story, grounding its high-stakes momentum in the deeply human choices that define us. Benedict Cumberbatch will undoubtedly bring the intelligence, depth, and moral complexity this role demands. It's an important story that speaks directly to our moment: a story about trust, responsibility, and the enduring bonds between people across borders. We're incredibly proud to be introducing the project to buyers at EFM."
Anvari added:
"This story is deeply personal to me. I come from the region, and what sits behind Last Flight is immediate and lived. It is a thriller built on pressure, momentum, and impossible choices, always driven by human consequence. I have admired Benedict Cumberbatch for years, and having him at the centre of this film is incredibly exciting. He brings a rare presence that makes the stakes feel urgent and alive."
