Benedict Cumberbatch buys £7k Kick Ass-inspired statue

Benedict Cumberbatch has spent £7000 on a replica of a statue seen in 'Kick Ass 2'.

The 'Atonement' star commissioned the sculpture - a copy of the figurine of a boy soldier which features in scenes from the 2013 action comedy starring Chloe Grace Moretz and Aaron Taylor Johnson - by his friend, artist Tristan Schoonrad.

The original life-sized statue which shows the young boy holding a hand grenade and wearing a helmet was made using moulds of Tristan's nephew Kai, aged 7, and Benedict has ordered a gold version of the anti-war sculpture to stand in the office of his and business partner Adam Ackland's production company Sunny March, reports The Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Boy Soldier will be housed at the Leontia Gallery in east London until May 12 before being delivered to its new owner.

The gallery's founder Leontia Reilly said: "I'm really pleased that Benedict Cumberbatch shares in Schoony's unique vision. It perfectly highlights the horrors of war and destruction."

Boy Solider isn't the first piece of Tristan's work to have been commissioned by a Hollywood star.

He has previously created pieces of art for actor Brad Pitt and musician Damon Albarn.