ScreenDaily has announced that Interbering, the first official documentary biopic of Vietnamese Buddhist monk and founder of worldly Buddhism, will begin filming, after WestEnd Films in London acquired the rights.
Directed by filmmaker Max Pugh and narrated by actor Benedict Cumberbatch, the new documentary follows the same approach as the 2017 film Walk With Me, which gave an in-depth look at Thich Nhat Hanh’s hometown, Plum Village.
In Walk With Me, Cumberbatch used Thich Nhat Hanh’s diary as a backdrop to depict the peaceful and tranquil scene at Plum Village, including monks washing dishes, walking in the woods, and participating in ordination ceremonies. The Interbering series began in the wake of Thich Nhat Hanh’s passing in January 2022.
According to ScreenDaily, the film will include testimonials from Oscar-winning filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu and Costa Rican diplomat, Buddhist and climate leader Christiana Figueres, who starred in the film Lion’s Roar earlier this year.
Filming will begin in September 2025, with locations in the United States, Vietnam, France and Africa. Phap Huu, a monk from Plum Village, said in a recent Facebook post that the film will be released in 2026.
In Lion’s Roar magazine feature, “Benedict Cumberbatch’s Buddhist Life,” the film’s narrator shares how he first encountered Buddhism at a temple in Nepal and how meditation has influenced his acting career.
Speaking about the new film, Cumberbatch highlighted the relevance of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings in today’s world, saying: “Thich Nhat Hanh changed my perspective on life. Giving voice to his poetry is necessary. His teachings are not only timeless, but are needed now more than ever.”
About the new film, WestEnd founder Maya Amsellem said: “Togetherness is an inspirational story for our times that successfully interweaves themes of spirituality, mental health and activism in a world that needs an alternative to the many crises we are currently seeing.”
