Chicago Fire star lands huge role opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in new Netflix drama

Jeff Hephner starred in two seasons of the hit drama for NBC and will soon be making the leap to Netflix for Benedict Cumberbatch’s new streaming project.

Chicago Fire star lands huge role opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in new Netflix drama
Jeff Hephner starred in two seasons of the hit drama for NBC and will soon be making the leap to Netflix for Benedict Cumberbatch’s new streaming project.

Hephner has been cast in Eric, an upcoming UK crime drama from playwright and screenwriter Abi Morgan.

Doctor Strange star Cumberbatch will lead the series as grief-stricken puppeteer Vincent Anderson.

When his young son goes missing, Vincent “finds solace through his friendship with the titular character, the monster that lives under his son’s bed.”

Hephner has been cast in a main role as politician Richard Castillo.

Castillo is officially described as “a charismatic, affluent politician who works for the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Motion Pictures and Television.”

He’ll be joining the already confirmed cast which includes The Walking Dead’s Dan Fogler and Girls and Transparent alum Gaby Hoffmann.

Also rounding out the main cast are Ozark’s McKinley Belcher III and Endeavour’s Phoebe Nicholls.

Clarke Peters, Ivan Morris Howe, David Denman, Bamar Kane, Adepero Odyue, Alexis Molnar, and Roberta Colindrez have also joined in supporting roles.

Eric will be split across six parts and is being produced by UK-based studio Sister.

The indie production studio is best known for hit UK series such as The Split, Gangs of London, This Is Going to Hurt and the upcoming Prime Video drama, The Power.

Hephner has celebrated the news this week by posting the latest article from Deadline confirming his casting on his Instagram story.

The upcoming series promises to be one of Netflix’s most creative outputs yet as a dark and inventive thriller set in 1980s New York.
An official description reads: “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 (Ivan Morris Howe), 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.”

In a statement, Morgan said: “The chance to work with Benedict and the creative team at Sister and Netflix, is irresistible.

“With Lucy Forbes at the directorial helm, I feel fortunate to be working at a time of such great creativity in our industry. Fingers crossed Eric will be a welcome addition.”

Filming for the series is currently underway as of this month and will be shooting in New York and Hungary.