It’s perfect: Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch is set to star in a thriller The Last Flightwhere he will present a US man who helped persecuted people find a safe way out of Iraq and Afghanistan.
BAFTA-winning Babak Anvari (Under the Shadows) is directing the film, based on a script by one of the film’s creators, Kirk Wallace Johnson.
Johnson is an author and former USAID (United States Agency for International Development) consultant who helped rebuild Fallujah in Iraq, and the founder of the List Project, a charity that resettles Iraqis who help their allies in the war. After returning from Iraq with PTSD, he worked closely with Senator Ted Kennedy to create the Special Immigrant Visa program, specifically for Iraqis and Afghans who served the US during the conflicts.
Johnson’s script “takes place in the last days of the twenty-year war. The film follows Ali, a young Afghan man, who fights for the life of his entire family to find a safe way out of Afghanistan, before he is doomed to certain death. To get to the border, he must put his trust in Kirk Johnson, an American immigrant 7,000 miles away who tries to stop him with a war.”
Filming is planned for May 2026 in the UK, Morocco and Jordan.
The project is produced by Two & Two (I came here) and Cumberbatch’s SunnyMarch (We Live in the Time); Lucan Toh and Babak Anvari produce for Two and Two, while Leah Clarke and Adam Ackland produce for SunnyMarch. Role Playing Game again Doctor Strange Star Cumberbatch will serve as executive producer of SunnyMarch and Dave Bishop, George Hamilton and James Pugh from Protagonist Pictures will also serve as executive producers. WME Independent represents the US distribution rights.
“The Last Flight it’s a rare thriller that combines edge-of-your-seat tension with deep personality,” said Protagonist Pictures CEO Dave Bishop. Benedict Cumberbatch will undoubtedly bring the intelligence, depth, and moral complexity this role demands. An important story that speaks directly to our time: a story about trust, responsibility, and the enduring bonds between people across borders. We’re very proud to present this show to EFM buyers.”
British-Iranian filmmaker Anvari commented: “This story is deeply personal to me. I’m from the region, and what’s behind it. The Last Flight quickly and he came to life. It’s a thriller built on pressure, momentum, and impossible choices, always driven by human consequence. I’ve admired Benedict Cumberbatch for years, and to have him at the center of this film is incredibly exciting. He brings a rare presence that makes the stakes feel urgent and alive. ”
“The Last Flight it’s a moving, dangerous journey and an inspiring call to action: it reminds us that, even if you’re on the other side of the world and all you have is a phone, an internet connection, and the desire to help, you can make a difference,” added Two & Two and SunnyMarch.
