Actor Merab Ninidze in shooting for drama with Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel Brosnahan

Georgian actor Merab Ninidze will join Academy Award-nominated Benedict Cumberbatch, Golden Globe winner Rachel Brosnahan and BAFTA nominee Jessie Buckley in Dominic Cooke’s upcoming drama Ironbark.

The Cold War-themed film, currently in post-production, brings to the big screen the story of British spy Greville Wynne and his source on the Soviet side working to end the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.

While Wynne will be portrayed by Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game, Sherlock), Ninidze’s role in the spy story has not been revealed yet.

Ninidze was in contention for the Best Actor Award at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival for his part in ‘Jupiter’s Moon’. Photo: Merab Ninidze actor page on Facebook.

Set for release this year, the feature is the newest work for Ninidze, known for roles in the British-American TV series McMafia and the drama Jupiter’s Moon by Kornél Mundruczó.

The Georgian actor has also appeared in a range of Georgian films, from acclaimed late Soviet-era works Repentance (1984) and Roots (1987) to contemporary productions including My Happy Family and Hostages.

Beside Cumberbatch he will be joined by Brosnahan, who is known for roles in TV series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and House of Cards.

The roster also involves Buckley, recognised for her principal character in the 2017 mystery drama Beast.