Benedict Cumberbatch producing and starring in TV version of 'The Child in Time'

Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Pinewood Television and SunnyMarch TV say they are producing an adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel The Child in Time for BBC One.

Co-produced by Masterpiece and written by Stephen Butchard, the 90-minute movie will star Sherlock icon Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Lewis, "a successful writer of children's books, who is confronted with the unthinkable: the loss of his child," a BBC press release explained Thursday.

"I read the novel years ago and it stayed with me -- profound, beautiful and very moving," Cumberbatch, a co-founder of SunnyMarch, said in a statement. "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."

"I'm thrilled to have my novel in the hands of such a high-level, creative team. I have fond memories of Benedict playing a brilliant and key part in the movie adaptation of Atonement. Now, it's a great honor to have this actor of such immense resource, experience and subtlety in the lead role of The Child in Time," McEwan added.