The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is one of Roald Dahl’s more heartening pieces that was published in 1977 along with a collection of six other short stories. It was written in response to critics who described Dahl as the “master of nastiness” for writing stories that were often considered too twisted and macabre for children’s tales. Wes Anderson is all set to stir in his quirk and whimsy to the mix to bring alive another Dahl classic.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar will be Anderson’s second Roald Dahl adaptation after Fantastic Mr. Fox. The Benedict Cumberbatch-led film is slated to release on Netflix sometime this fall. Here’s everything we know.

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The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar: The Plot

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Despite being based on one of the short stories from the classic, the film is supposed to be divided into three chapters where Henry Sugar (played by Cumberbatch) will serve as the connecting thread. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar has multiple embedded narratives making it a perfect example of a nested story.

Henry Sugar is a wealthy bachelor who lives a life of extravagance. He stumbles upon a doctor’s report on a strange patient from India, Imhrat Khan, who has the ability to see with his eyes closed. Khan claims to have learned this skill from a certain Yogi Hardawar (a possible misappropriation of Haridwar, a holy city for Hindus in India), who taught him how to see through thin objects like paper and see around solid objects like wooden doors if he could put his finger or hand around them.

Sugar decides to steal the detailed interview where Khan’s description of the meditation method used to gain this second sight is documented. It takes Sugar three years to master the ability, which he then promptly uses to gamble. He racks up a considerable amount of wealth, but eventually, the thrill wears off, and his hedonistic ways become anathema to him.

One fine morning, Sugar, repulsed by his hoarded wealth, decides to throw his money off the balcony of his London home. A near-riot situation ensues and a police officer plants the idea in Sugar’s mind to dispose of his wealth in more meaningful and charitable ways. He reaches the shores of Las Vegas, where he ends up winning big at three different casinos, all owned by the same Mafioso. In order to escape and hide his identity better, he enlists the help of a skilled makeup artist in Hollywood, who comes up with various disguises for him. Sugar travels the world under many aliases and sets up multiple well-equipped orphanages around the globe.

Generally in Roald Dahl’s stories malicious and greedy characters never change. Even after they are defeated by those they tormented and oppressed, these characters continue being who they were at their very core. They flee the scene, defeated and often humiliated, but never changing. With The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, Dahl not only created a character who evolves into a better person but also gave him a name rather anodyne in nature.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar: The Cast & Crew

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Wes Anderson, being a true Europhile, has shot the film that marks his Netflix debut in London. Apart from Benedict Cumberbatch in the titular role of Henry Sugar, the film will also star Ralph Fiennes (Grand Budapest Hotel, Harry Potter), Dev Patel (Lion, Slumdog Millionaire), Ben Kingsley (Shutter Island, Gandhi), Rupert Friend (The French Dispatch, Asteroid City), and Richard Ayoade (The IT Crowd, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain).

The cast seems to be missing most of the Andersonverse regulars, and that might be because they are all tied up with his other 2023 release, Asteroid City, which will star Tilda Swinton, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson among a long list of other notable Hollywood A-listers.

Release Date

The film is anticipated to arrive on Netflix this fall.

Everything Else We Know

In September 2021, the streaming giant Netflix acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company, and some dubbed this move to be akin to getting the golden ticket to Dahl’s fascinating archive of stories. While announcing the news, Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos wrote the following.

The Emma Thompson-led Matilda the Musical, adapted from a classic Dahl favorite Matilda, has already been released in December 2022. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is currently in post-production and till it arrives we leave you to ponder: “If you could see with your eyes closed…would you use your power for good or for personal gain?”