VIDEO : The First Image of Benedict Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison Has Arrived

The first photo of Benedict Cumberbatch in The Current War is here -- and it's a little bit darker than we anticipated. The 40-year-old actor stars as Thomas Edison in the upcoming Weinstein Company film. The plot focuses on the rivalry between Edison and George Westinghouse as the two race to "create a marketable and sustainable electricity system" in 19th century America. The Alfonso Gomez Rejon-directed film will feature Nicholas Hoult as Nikola Tesla . The Current War marks a return to biopics for Cumberbatch, who won an Academy Award nomination for his role in 2014's The Imitation Game .A release date for The Current War has not yet been set.