'Sherlock' Actors Benedict Cumberbatch And Martin Freeman Get Invitation From Academy

“Sherlock” actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman have been sent invitation to join the 2015 class of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Academy has invited a record 322 new members to join the organisation this year.

Earlier this year at the 87th annual Academy Awards, Cumberbatch, who earned his first Oscar nomination for his performance in “The Imitation Game,” lost the best actor trophy to Eddie Redmayne. The latter has also received the membership invitation from the Academy. Redmayne won the best actor award for his role as Professor Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, it is not the rule that an Oscar win or a nomination automatically makes someone eligible for membership, but the nomination helps in making someone eligible for consideration. The report also said that the all the 17 branches of the Academy have their own set of eligibility criteria, including for experience and credits, to decide whom to invite.

"It's very gratifying to see the big increase in gender and people of color, in age and national origin. It's a testament to the extraordinary breadth of talent in our industry," THR quoted Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president at Academy, as saying in a statement. He also said, "the branches, which set the criterion for membership, have really stepped up and looked out and about and around to recognise filmmakers and artists and crafts people who maybe might have been overlooked in the past."

In addition to Cumberbatch, Freeman and Redmayne, the other actors who have been sent the invitation are Elizabeth Banks, Choi Min-sik, Heather Graham, Tom Hardy, Kevin Hart, Felicity Jones, Stephen Lang, Jodi Long, John Carroll Lynch, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Denis O’Hare, Michael O’Neill, David Oyelowo, Dev Patel, Rosamund Pike, Chris Pine, Daniel Radcliffe, Jason Segel, Sonny Skyhawk, Song Kang-ho and Emma Stone

Meanwhile, Cumberbatch, who recently welcomed his first child, is preparing for his titular role in “Hamlet.” The play is set to open at The Barbican on Aug. 25. According to Chicago Tribute, the entire run of the play has been officially sold out. In addition to Cumberbatch, the cast also includes “Game of Thrones” actor Ciaran Hinds and Anastasia Hille.

Cumberbatch and Freeman are expected to begin filming the three episodes of “Sherlock” Season 4 in spring 2016. Earlier this year, both the actors filmed a special, one-off episode of “Sherlock,” which may air this Christmas, though BBC has yet to confirm that.

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