Showtime has released a new teaser and poster (see below) for Patrick Melrose, its upcoming five-part limited series starring Benedict Cumberbatch, who also executive produces, in the titular role.

There’s very little dialogue in this latest look, but Cumberbatch’s angst over his traumatic childhood is evident in a series of flashbacks. The series centers on Melrose (Cumberbatch) who’s struggling to overcome the damage inflicted by a horribly abusive father and the mother who tacitly condoned his behavior. [Source]

Benedict Cumberbatch attends the UK Fan Event for ‘Avengers Infinity War’ at Television Studios White City on April 8, 2018 in London. You can go to the gallery to take a look to over 300 HQ photos.

Edward St. Aubyn’s darkly comic novels about upper-class life in Britain, beloved by a generation of distinguished readers, come to Showtime next month.

In 2012, when it came time to publish a paperback version of the Patrick Melrose novels, the semi-autobiographical pentalogy by the English author Edward St. Aubyn, his American publishers had no trouble rounding up rapturous praise from a passel of distinguished readers: Zadie Smith, Bret Easton Ellis, Ann Patchett, Edmund White, Sam Lipsyte, and Alice Sebold. They might also have thought to ask a reader named Benedict Cumberbatch, who considers the books “the most exquisite achievements in 21st-century prose”—a fortunate view, given that Cumberbatch stars in the five-part adaptation of the novels that airs on Showtime in May.

A darkly comic indictment of Britain’s upper class, Patrick Melrose, which also stars Jennifer Jason Leigh and Blythe Danner, follows its protagonist from age five, when he is abused by his father (played by Hugo Weaving) in a country house in Provence, through his young adulthood, when he becomes a heroin addict in New York and London, to his recovery from drugs and transition to fatherhood. “It was a hell of an arc to play,” says Cumberbatch. “Patrick’s life is a nonstop madeleine cake of horrors.”

Portraying a character from age 25 to 45 was a significant challenge, Cumberbatch says—as was capturing the attitude and vocal mannerisms specific to Patrick’s class: “I went to a very posh public school, second to Eton, yet I had only one friend from the landed gentry. I’ve been trying to knock the corners off my accent ever since I left Harrow.” Cumberbatch consulted frequently with St. Aubyn, who, though he didn’t write the teleplay, made himself available to any cast member in search of biographical grist.

In the end, St. Aubyn reports, there’s unexpected consolation to be found in seeing his alter ego brought to the screen. “I’ve spent 25 years being asked if I’m Patrick Melrose,” he says. “So it’s a great deal of relief to be able to say, ‘No, Benedict Cumberbatch is.’” [Source]

Showtime announced the premiere date for the Benedict Cumberbatch-led limited series “Patrick Melrose” on Friday.

The series will debut on Saturday, May 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Showtime hopes to expand its original scripted offerings on Saturday nights with the five-part series, which is based on the semi-autobiographical Patrick Melrose novels by Edward St. Aubyn.

“As the size of our programming slate continues to grow, it makes sense for Showtime to offer another night of premieres – allowing us the opportunity to eventize series like ‘Patrick Melrose,’” said David Nevins, president and CEO of Showtime Networks Inc. “Offering original content on Saturdays not only enables us to fully service our subscribers with diverse offerings, it gives viewers enough time to enjoy them all. And a series with the ambition and quality of ‘Patrick Melrose’ is the perfect place to start.”

I have added more photos of Benedict for ‘The Child in Time’ Press Conference. You can go to the gallery to take a look.