Benedict Cumberbatch will star in and executive produce a feature-length TV adaptation of Ian McEwan”s award-winning 1987 novel The Child In Time.

Cumberbatch”s production company SunnyMarch is teaming with Pinewood Television and Masterpiece for the 90-minute BBC One production.

He will executive produce alongside fellow Sunnymarch founder Adam Ackland and David Boulter; other exec producers include Lucy Richer for the BBC, Helen Gregory for Pinewood Television and Rebecca Eaton for Masterpiece.

McEwan”s dark novel explores the effects on a marriage of the loss of a child. Cumberbatch will play protagonist Stephen Lewis, a children”s author whose relationship with his wife is pushed to breaking point by their struggle with grief.

The book won the Whitbread Novel award in 1987. Stephen Butchard has adapted it for the small screen; he will also executive produce. Julian Farino directs.

Cumberbatch said of the news: “I read the novel years ago and it stayed with me — profound, beautiful and very moving. Only Ian McEwan could write about loss with such telling honesty. We”re very excited to have Stephen Butchard”s subtle and brilliant adaptation, and in Julian Farino we have an extraordinary director who delivers emotional truth.

“I”m so proud The Child In Time will be the first drama produced by SunnyMarch TV.”

The Child In Time is currently in pre-production. PI subscribers should log in to the project as from 17 February there will be listings for key hires including the producer, production designer, casting director, location manager and production co-ordinator along with confirmed shoot dates.

Photo via Getty Images/WireImage/Amanda Edwards.