The Current War Trailer

Trailer for The Current War, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Katherine Waterston, Nicholas Hoult and Tom Holland.

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison and Michael Shannon as George Westinghouse, The Current War is the epic story of the cutthroat competition between the greatest inventors of the industrial age over whose electrical system would power the new century. Backed by J.P. Morgan, Edison dazzles the world by lighting Manhattan. But Westinghouse, aided by Nikola Tesla, has seen fatal flaws in Edison’s direct current design. Igniting a war of currents, Westinghouse and Tesla bet everything on risky and dangerous alternating current.

Timur Bekmambetov originally acquired rights to the script back in 2012, with the assumption that he'd also direct. Though he stayed on to produce, the role of director eventually went to Alfonso Gomez-Rejon.

If you are a fan of six degrees of separation, it should be noted that The Current War features a fairly strong Marvel cast. You have Doctor Strange in Benedict Bumberbatch, Spider-Man with Tom Holland, and Nicholas Hoult as Hank McCoy. Michael Shannon helps counter Marvel influence with the DC character General Zod.

While The Prestige gave an idea on the competition between Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla -- making Edison look somewhat like a super-dick -- The Current War focuses on Edison's rivalry with George Westinghouse. At least until the final moments of the trailer, which introduces the dark horse, Tesla. 

The first trailer for The Current War looks incredible cool for a period piece and it should be interesting how accurate the story is to real history. For those who are biopic adverse, the film's impressive cast should help drive audiences to the theaters.