Jake Gyllenhaal and Benedict Cumberbatch in talks to star in 'Rio'

Image from The Wrap

By Darian Scalamoni

            The potential acting dream team may finally be coming to fruition after all. According to The Tracking Board, Jake Gyllenhaal and Benedict Cumberbatch are in talks to star in Rio. The movie is set to be directed by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name, A Bigger Splash) and is one of the hottest projects being shopped at Cannes this month.

            Rio follows a reporter who travels to Rio de Janeiro to visit a wealthy friend, only to get pulled into a plot to fake his friend’s death. Gyllenhaal will play the reporter and Cumberbatch the wealthy comrade if they do sign on. Both actors have incredibly busy schedules so I’d be shocked if they both can sign on without dropping other potential projects that are waiting in the wings. The two A-list actors where both signed on to star in The Current War directed by Me and Earl and the Dying Girl helmer, Alfonso Gomez-Rejon but Gyllenhaal dropped out to star in Paul Dano’s directorial debut, Wildfire.

            Gyllenhaal’s busy schedule includes Wildfire, Bong Joon-ho’s latest film Okja and Stronger in which he plays Boston Marathon survivor, Jeff Bauman. He’s also set to star in The Sisters Brothers, The Son which would reunite him with Denis Villeneuve and the video game adaptation, The Division. Cumberbatch on the other hand will reprise his role in the MCU as Doctor Strange for Avengers: Infinity War and possibly, Thor: Ragnarok. He’ll also voice the Grinch in the animated How the Grinch Stole Christmas and voice Shere Khan in Andy Serkis’ darker live-action take of Jungle Book.

            How do you guys feel about a potential team-up for Gyllenhaal and Cumberbatch? Will Guadagnino be able to steer the actors to potential awards consideration? Let us know what you think in the comment section below!