Benedict Cumberbatch-Led "How To Stop Time" to Be Turned into TV Series

English actor Benedict Cumberbatch's long-awaited adaptation of "How to Stop Time", has been altered from a feature into a TV series. 

Studiocanal optioned the Matt Haig novel six years ago and was initially developing it as a feature with Cumberbatch’s SunnyMarch, which it part owns.

After a hefty hiatus, Studiocanal CEO Anna Marsh revealed at Mip TV on Monday that the project will now be a six-part TV series, with Cumberbatch and SunnyMarch still attached.

DC Moore and Tomas Alfredson will write and direct, respectively. Filming will begin in London and across Europe next year.

Published in 2017, the genre-bending book is a high-stakes superhero thriller about men and women who suffer from a rare condition that makes them live for hundreds and hundreds of years. 

Born in 15th century France, Tom Hazard (played by Cumberbatch) has time and time again lost everything he loves. Affected by a life of perpetual loss, Tom is part of a like-conditioned secret power elite whose only rule is: Never to fall in love. Then he meets a captivating French teacher at his school who seems equally fascinated by him.

Robyn Slovo is producing alongside Cumberbatch, Adam Ackland, Claire Marshall, and Leah Clarke for SunnyMarch. Moore, Alfredson, Haig and Jamie Byng executive produce. Ron Halpern, Studiocanal EVP global production, and SVP global production Joe Naftalin executive produce and are overseeing for Studiocanal.

The series reunites Studiocanal with Cumberbatch, Adam Ackland, Claire Marshall, Leah Clarke, Alfredson, and Robyn Slovo, who combined for 2011’s BAFTA-winning and Academy Award-nominated "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy".