New Delhi, Oct 23 (IANS): "The Current War", starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Shannon, will release in India on November 1.

The film, directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, is about visionary scientists locked in a battle to light up the world, by pitting Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse as rivals.

Cumberbatch plays Edison and Shannon is Westinghouse. The film also features Nicholas Hoult, Tom Holland, Katherine Waterston, Tuppence Middleton and Matthew Macfadyen.

Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was involved with the project before The New York Times exposed him with a detailed report on the allegations of sexual misconduct by several women. The film was "almost shelved" following the expose.

According to Gomez-Rejon, the film was salvaged with the help of his mentor Martin Scorsese, reports variety.com

"He agreed to be (a producer) just as a safety net. God forbid that the worst would happen, he'd be there as a safety net, and if the final cut wouldn't go to me, then he would have the final say. And then the worst happened. Literally, the absolutely worst happened, and he was there to save the day, and he got the final cut," Gomez-Rejon said, about the film, set to be released in India on November 1 by PVR Pictures.