Jake Gyllenhaal is in talks to join Benedict Cumberbatch in the Weinstein Company’s drama “The Current,” which Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”) is in talks to direct, an individual familiar with the project has told TheWrap.
Cumberbatch has been rumored for months to play Thomas Edison, while Gyllenhaal is in discussions to play George Westinghouse.
A representative for the Weinstein Company had no comment.
Michael Mitnick wrote the script, which was voted to the 2011 Black List of Hollywood’s best unproduced screenplays. Set in the late 1880s, the story follows the battle between Edison and Westinghouse to supply electricity, with Edison backing direct current and Westinghouse pushing alternating current.
Timur Bekmambetov, who was once attached to direct the film, will now produce via Bazelevs along with Steve Zaillian and Garrett Basch of Film Rites.
Gyllenhaal and Cumberbatch have both recently worked with the Weinstein Company between “Southpaw” and “The Imitation Game,” respectively.
Gomez-Rejon will first direct “Collateral Beauty” starring Will Smith before he turns his attention to “The Current War.”
The news was first reported by the Hollywood Reporter.