Hercule Poirot’s last on-screen outing certainly left mixed messages. And not just with critics. While not a moral victory by any means, justice of a sort was served by passengers on the Orient Express. As the old saying goes—however—when one door closes, another opens and—unfortunately—murder seems to follow Poirot wherever he goes. The famous Belgian detective’s next destination is decidedly warmer and perfect for turning up the heat on the possible perpetrators. It’s time to swap out a train for a boat, as “Death on the Nile” prepares to cast off.
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Placing himself in the role of Poirot and the director’s chair once again is Oscar nominee Kenneth Branagh (“Henry V”). In fact, his previous contributions and that of the production team on “Murder on the Orient Express” impressed James Prichard—Agatha Christie’s own great-grandson and chairman of her licensing company—to such an extent that more of his great-grandmother’s stories might get the big-screen treatment. Also on board once again—figuratively and literally—are screenwriter Michael Green and composer Patrick Doyle. Both are past Branagh collaborators and Academy Award nominees in their own right.
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Back alongside Branagh is Tom Bateman as Poirot’s good friend Bouc. Joining them is a brand new cast of characters, and nobody is above suspicion. They are portrayed by the likes of Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer (“The Social Network” & “Call Me by Your Name”), Rose Leslie (“Game of Thrones” & “The Good Fight”) and Russell Brand. Oscar nominees Annette Bening and Sophie Okonedo also star.
Here’s the synopsis:
Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple’s idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Set against an epic landscape of sweeping desert vistas and the majestic Giza pyramids, this tale of unbridled passion and incapacitating jealousy features a cosmopolitan group of impeccably dressed travelers, and enough wicked twists and turns to leave audiences guessing until the final, shocking denouement. “Death on the Nile” reunites the filmmaking team behind 2017’s global hit “Murder on the Orient Express,” and stars five-time Academy Award® nominee Kenneth Branagh as the iconic detective Hercule Poirot. He is joined by an all-star cast of suspects, including: Tom Bateman, four-time Oscar® nominee Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders and Letitia Wright. “Death on the Nile” is written by Michael Green, adapted from Christie’s novel, and is produced by Ridley Scott, Mark Gordon, Simon Kinberg, Kenneth Branagh, Judy Hofflund and Kevin J. Walsh, with Matthew Jenkins, James Prichard and Matthew Prichard serving as executive producers.
“Death on the Nile”—distributed by 20th Century Studios—is set to hit theatres on October 23rd. Poirot is sure to be kept on his toes once again, so check out the trailer below.
