Nicholas Hoult in talks to play Nikola Tesla to Benedict Cumberbatch's Edison in 'The Current War'

Actor Nicholas Hoult is in talks to play inventor Nikolai Tesla in the Weinstein Company's The Current War.

Benedict Cumberbatch is already on board to play Thomas Edison and Michael Shannon will portray George Westinghouse in the film, to be directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, reported Entertainment Weekly.

The movie is set in late 1880s and revolves around power titans Edison and Westinghouse's battle over the supply of electricity. Edison mastered the use of a direct current for electric power distribution over an alternating current, which was backed by several European companies and Westinghouse Electric.

Timur Bekmambetov, who was originally eyed to direct the movie, will produce alongside Film Rites' Steve Zaillian and Garrett Basch.