Benedict Cumberbatch reflects on dressing as a monster in 'Eric'

In the TV show "Eric," Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Vincent, a puppeteer in a dark and strange version of 1980s New York. Vincent's son, Edgar, goes missing, leading to a series of mysterious events. Vincent believes that his son's drawings of a puppet named Eric hold the key to finding him. As Vincent struggles with guilt and anxiety, he starts seeing Eric, a foul-mouthed puppet, who helps him in his search for Edgar. The show also follows a detective dealing with a racist and homophobic police department, and a missing Black teenager, hinting at a larger web of child exploitation. The story explores Vincent's unraveling as he tries to cope with his son's disappearance. The show delves into themes of addiction, family breakdown, mental illness, homophobia, racism, corruption, and more. Through its six episodes, the plot weaves together various characters and storylines, creating a complex and suspenseful narrative. The dark and gritty portrayal of New York adds to the show's intense atmosphere. Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Vincent, shared his experience of wearing a 7-foot monster costume for the series. He described it as both fun and challenging, especially considering the emotional depth of his character. The actor praised his co-star, Olly Taylor, who brought the puppet Eric to life inside the suit. Cumberbatch reflected on the difficulties of acting in the heavy costume and the unique perspective it offered him as an actor. "Eric" premieres on Netflix on May 30th, offering a compelling and thought-provoking story that delves into the complexities of human nature and society.