Lifted from the pages of Agatha Christie’s timeless masterclass, 20th Century Fox and writer-director Kenneth Branagh recently came together for a new and modern take on the iconic thriller that is Murder on the Orient Express, which had Branagh tackle the role of Hercule Poirot.
It was a whodunnit of epic proportions, but unfortunately, the film’s stellar cast couldn’t quite save it. Most critics walked away unenthused, with our own Matt Donato calling it “an antique mystery that chugs along at 5-miles an hour without any turns that might jolt viewers in the slightest.” Ouch! Still, that didn’t deter Fox and shortly after its release, the studio announced sequel plans.
Now, the follow-up is coming together. Titled Death on the Nile, it’ll be based on Agatha Christie’s novel of the same name and after roping in Gal Gadot just a few days ago, Fox has snagged Armie Hammer for a sizable role. Exact details on who he’s playing haven’t been revealed, but he’s said to be one of the leads.
From what we understand, Kenneth Branagh will be back behind the camera working from a script by Michael Green. Production is set to get underway in mid-2010 and already, Fox has locked in a December 20th, 2019 release, which means that the Murder on the Orient Express sequel will pull into theaters just in time for the holidays.
And as for what you can expect in terms of the plot? Well, Death on the Nile sees “detective Hercule Poirot investigating a murder during a luxurious cruise on the Nile River that he just happens to be on. But just as he identifies a motley collection of would-be killers, several of the suspects also meet their demise, which only deepens the mystery.”
Sounds like a thrilling story, and though the first film wasn’t exactly a critical darling – as we mentioned above – I personally enjoyed it quite a bit and certainly look forward to seeing Branagh reprising his role for another entertaining whodunnit mystery.