Stephen Hawking

Biopics about incredible British men – and starring incredible British men – seems to be quiet a theme at the movies in 2014. Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch is earning early raves for his portrayal of Alan Turing in The Imitation Game and now fellow dreamy Brit Eddie Redmayne (whom you may know from Les Miserables and Birdsong) is also generating quite a bit of buzz in a role Cumberbatch previously played. (Because, you know, of course he did).

Redmayne is playing the great British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking in a new film entitled The Theory of Everything. The drama explores the complex relationship between Hawking and his first wife Jane, and chronicles his diagnosis and subsequent battle with motor neurone disease beginning at the age of 21. (Motor neurone disease, in case you weren’t aware of this, is known as ALS in America, and was the impetus behind that Ice Bucket Challenge that took over your Facebook feed this summer.) The film follows his career as a groundbreaking theoretician and the many discoveries he made as his body deteriorated.

British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking is a household name – an author who has sold more than ten million books, a scientist who has made remarkable discoveries about time and space, and an icon who has spoken in front of thousands of people and served as an inspiration to countless more. He is, sadly, also famous for his struggle with Motor Neurone Disease, an ailment which eventually paralyzed him, but didn’t dampen his intellectual brilliance.

So, yeah, it seems like his life story might make a pretty good movie, right? Or at least a fascinating documentary.

A brand new film called Hawking is set to provide an in-depth look at the life of this extraordinary individual and his accomplishments. The documentary will give viewers a rare look into Hawking’s life, past and present, aided by a cast of celebrity contributors and fans, including astronaut Edwin Eugene “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr., actors Jim Carey and Benedict Cumberbatch, mathematical physicist Sir Roger Penrose and entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson.

The story follows Hawking’s life through his early days as a student, his diagnosis with motor neurone disease and his astonishing scientific discoveries to his status as the bestselling author of A Brief History of Time and general worldwide pop culture icon. It also provides a look into the scientist’s daily life, including how he travels and some of his favorite personal pastimes.

Hawking, who is very, very private, narrated and directed the documentary himself and it is the only official autobiographical account of his life. (How cool is that??) Watch a preview below.