After a variety of roles in 2013, with blockbusters like The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and Star Trek Into Darkness dramas such as The Fifth Estate and August: Osage County, as well as one of the finest films of the year, 12 Years a Slave, Benedict Cumberbatch will be taking it a bit easier in 2014. Aside from his return as Smaug and his TV outing with Sherlock, his only other role is the biopic The Imitation Game.

With Cumberbatch headlining as computer genius and WWII hero Alan Turing, we now have the first image today (via the official Twitter), coming just after the Queen announced a posthumous royal pardon. Director Morten Tyldum will be making his English-language debut here, following one of the finest thrillers in recent years, Headhunters. The story tracks Turin’s life as a brilliant technician, whose work in cracking the Axis forces’ “Enigma Code” was a huge boon in the effort to end World War II. Sadly, his life ended with a tragic suicide spurred by institutional hatred of his homosexuality. With a score by Clint Mansell (The Fountain, Stoker, Noah), check out the image below, and an image of Turing himself above.

Coming from an acclaimed Black List screenplay by Graham MooreMark Strong, Keira KnightleyMatthew Goode, Allen Leech round out the cast for the film that is expected to land in 2014.

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