Benedict Cumberbatch trades in his "Sherlock Holmes" hat and "Doctor Strange" cape for an eyepatch and snazzy suit in the first trailer for "Patrick Melrose."

The actor also executive-produced the Showtime limited series, which is based on the novels by Edward St. Aubyn. The official synopsis describes it as an "acerbic and fearless look at the protagonist's harrowing odyssey from a deeply traumatic childhood to his remarkable survival as an adult."

Patrick's life has its dark moments, from an abusive father to cocaine and heroin use, but he's also a bitingly witty rogue who skewers the upper class society in which he moves.

Cumberbatch has been busy lately. He just headlined the PBS Masterpiece TV movie "The Child in Time" and joins all the other Marvel heroes later this month in "Avengers: Infinity War."

"Patrick Melrose" also stars Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hugo Weaving, Anna Madeley, Blythe Danner, Allison William. The five-episode run begins May 12.