Benedict Cumberbatch stars in Netflix's Eric limited series: Everything to know

Emmy Award-winning actor Benedict Cumberbatch is set to make his return to Netflix with a new limited series called Eric. We gathered together all the important details about the upcoming show, and created a guide to share with you below.

Cumberbatch hasn't been away from Netflix for long. His latest projects for the streamer are the Academy Award-winning short film The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and another short film called Poison. Both of these movies came out in 2023. Two years prior, he starred in the Netflix Western film The Power of the Dog. Now, we'll see him in the British drama series, Eric.

Described as an emotional thriller, Eric is inspired by a true story. Lucy Forbes, who directed several episodes of the black comedy-drama The End of the F***ing World, signed on to direct, with Emmy winner Abi Morgan writing the scripts. Morgan is also the creator and showrunner. Forbes, Morgan, Cumberbatch, Jane Featherstone, and Lucy Dyke are executive producers. Additionally, Sister and Little Chick co-produced the show.

It's a six-episode series set in 1980s New York. Vincent is a successful puppeteer and creator of a popular children's TV show. Everything seems to be going well for him until his 9-year-old son mysteriously disappears one morning on the way to school. Now, he's determined to do everything in his power to find him and bring him back home. But he still struggles with the loss of his son, and this loss is what leads him to cling to his son’s drawings of a blue monster puppet named Eric. Vincent is convinced that if he somehow brings Eric on his show, then his son will come home. With his increasingly volatile behavior pushing everyone away, his only hope of finding his son is through Eric.

Here's the official synopsis via Netflix Media Center:

"Set in 1980s New York, Eric is a new emotional thriller from Abi Morgan following the desperate search of a father when his nine year old son disappears one morning on the way to school. Vincent, one of New York’s leading puppeteers and creator of the hugely popular children’s television show, ‘Good Day Sunshine,’ struggles to cope with the loss of his son, Edgar, becoming increasingly distressed and volatile. Full of self-loathing and guilt around Edgar’s disappearance, he clings to his son’s drawings of a blue monster puppet, ERIC, convinced that if he can get ERIC on TV then Edgar will come home. As Vincent’s progressively destructive behaviour alienates his family, his work colleagues, and the detectives trying to help him, it’s Eric, a delusion of necessity, who becomes his only ally in the pursuit to bring his son home."

Cumberbatch portrays the role of the protagonist, Vincent. Joining him in the cast is young actor Ivan Howe, playing Vincent's 9-year-old son, Edgar. This is Howe's first major acting role. In addition, Gaby Hoffmann plays the role of Cassie and McKinley Belcher III as lead detective Ledroit.

Eric release date on Netflix

Get ready because all six episodes of the limited series Eric are set to land on Netflix on Thursday, May 30, 2024. You can expect the show to drop on the streaming platform at 12:00 a.m. PT/3:00 a.m. ET/2:00 a.m. CT on this date.

It's rated TV-MA, meaning it's meant to be viewed by mature audiences only. It was given this maturity rating for strong language, smoking, and substances. Overall, it's not necessarily a show you would want to watch with the entire family. It might be too much for a younger audience. We recommend finding something kid-friendly for the kids to watch before you start your binge-session of Eric.

Take a look at these official production stills from the new series!

We're still waiting on the official trailer, which should be dropping sometime in April. Once it's released, we'll be sure to return to this space to share it. So, stay tuned to Netflix Life!