Why Everyone on X Is Talking About 2017’s The Current War Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Nicholas Hoult

2017’s “The Current War” trends after Elon Musk’s post on Nikola Tesla.

The 2017 historical drama The Current War is experiencing a surge in popularity. This is thanks to a recent post by Elon Musk on X (formerly Twitter). The tech billionaire shared a screenshot of Nicholas Hoult portraying Nikola Tesla in the film, captioning it, “We named @Tesla after Nikola Tesla, one of the greatest engineers ever. He was a penniless immigrant whose inventions led to American dominance in electricity generation and usage.”

Nicholas Hoult responded humorously to Musk’s post, saying, “Clearly a very convincing performance I gave here.”

Amid the buzz, many X users speculated the image was AI-generated, prompting a follow-up post by me. A poster for The Current War was shared alongside the clarification: “For those who are curious, this is from the movie The Current War. It tells the dramatic story of the intense competition between electricity titans Thomas A. Edison, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, and George Westinghouse, portrayed by Michael Shannon, as they race to determine which electrical system would power the modern world.”

The unexpected attention has led to a new wave of interest in the film, with many commenting that they plan to watch it or have recently rediscovered it. Described by viewers as a “hidden gem” with an all-star cast, The Current War is being recommended widely.

About the Film

Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl), The Current War chronicles the dramatic clash between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse as they battle to dominate the future of electrical power in the late 19th century. Edison, championing direct current (DC), faces fierce competition from Westinghouse, who advocates for alternating current (AC). The film also explores the contributions of Nikola Tesla, portrayed by Hoult, as an inventive yet underappreciated figure in this revolutionary era.

The cast includes:

• Benedict Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison
• Michael Shannon as George Westinghouse
• Nicholas Hoult as Nikola Tesla
• Tom Holland as Samuel Insull
• Katherine Waterston as Marguerite Westinghouse
• Tuppence Middleton as Mary Edison

Initially released in 2017, the film was re-edited and re-released in 2019 as the “Director’s Cut,” offering a more streamlined and focused narrative.

Where to Stream

For those looking to watch The Current War, the film is currently available for streaming on Hulu, Prime Video, Sling TV, Roku Channel and Paramount+. It’s also available for rental or purchase on major digital platforms like Google Play, Vudu, and YouTube Movies.

The conversation around Nikola Tesla and the electrification race continues to resonate. The Current War serves as a compelling dramatization of a pivotal moment in history. It is brought to life by a stellar ensemble cast.

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