Benedict Cumberbatch is all set to star in Netflix’s upcoming thriller series The 39 Steps. Share Via Email | A+A A- By Express News Service Benedict Cumberbatch is all set to star in Netflix’s upcoming thriller series The 39 Steps. Based on John Buchan’s classic thriller novel, the story, set in World War I, follows a man named Richard Hannay, who becomes embroiled in an international spy ring and must go on the run. The novel’s most famous adaptation is the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock which starred Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll. According to Deadline, Benedict Cumberbatch’s limited series will be a contemporary retelling of the novel, following an ordinary man, Richard Hannay, as he gets caught up in a global conspiracy.