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CBS Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights to “At Eternity’s Gate,” the new film from fine artist and director Julian Schnabel that was for sale at this year’s Cannes.

The deal was for $1.75 million and the picture will star Willem Dafoe, fresh off an Oscar-nominated turn in “The Florida Project,” as Vincent Van Gogh. Oscar Isaacs (“Ex Machina”), Rupert Friend (“Homeland”) and Mads Mikkelsen (“Valhalla Rising”) round out the cast. A 2018 release is planned, with CBS Films positioning “At Eternity’s Gate” as an awards contender.

Schnabel hasn’t made a film since 2010’s “Miral,” a coming of age drama about a Palestinian girl that received a tepid critical response and withering box office returns. He fared much better with 2007’s “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” and 2000’s “Before Night Falls,” both of which scored Oscar nominations and rave reviews.

Schnabel is an eccentric figure, often pajama clad,...

Having become a full-fledged star over the past few years, thanks to high-profile roles in movies such as “The Imitation Game” and “Star Trek Into Darkness,” and TV shows like "Sherlock," it wasn’t that long ago when Benedict Cumberbatch was just a hard-working actor trying to make his mark in the business. In 2010, he appeared in the docudrama “Van Gogh: Painted with Words,” which premiered on television in the UK at the time, and as you might suspect, it features Cumberbatch in the title role. Written and directed by Andrew Hutton, 'Painted with Words' is an interesting blend of storytelling formats and, in the end, reminds us why Benedict Cumberbatch is one of the most sought-after actors working today. And as luck would have it, the entire movie can currently be streamed on vimeo, free of charge, courtesy of the filmmaker. Andrew Hutton tells the life story of Vincent Van Gogh...

In 1976, Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch was ushered into our world; in 2013, his incredibly British moniker became a household name when he landed a starring role in the global hit, Star Trek Into Darkness.  Cumberbatch is anything but a one-hit wonder, however, having built a fan following with roles in Atonement, War Horse, and of course, playing the title character in Sherlock.  Cumberbatch continues to test his skills by taking on roles across the spectrum, from voice roles in television with The Simpsons and Peter Jackson's blockbuster trilogy, The Hobbit, to awards-worthy turns in 12 Years a Slave, The Fifth Estate and August: Osage County.  Hit the jump for more on Cumberbatch's career, including where he's been, what we'll see him in this year, and what films are yet to come. Before 2013, aka The pre-Cumberbatchian Era Prior to 2013, Benedict Cumberbatch had starred in a number of projects in the U.K.

BBC Two's one-off drama Vincent Van Gogh: Painted with Words garnered few viewers last night, according to the latest overnight data. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, the 90-minute show only averaged 955k (5%) between 7.45pm and 9.15pm. However, the audience rose from 838k (4%) when the programme started to a peak of 1.61m (8.2%) in the final 15 minutes. Hosted by Chris Addison, Have I Got A Bit More News For You followed Painted with Words with a healthy 1.95m (9.6%), before Secrets of the Pop Song stayed solid with 1.01m (5.6%) from 9.50pm. Over on BBC One, the return of John Barrowman's Tonight's The Night dazzled 3.9m (22.5%) from 7.10pm, while ITV1's Odd One In - starting at the same time - slipped to 2.7m (15.6%) and 155k on timeshift. The National Lottery: In It To Win It was the most-watched (more)...