A Haunting in Venice: Kenneth Branagh’s next Agatha Christie murder mystery could debut on the Lido

Kenneth Branagh‘s next Agatha Christie murder mystery, A Haunting In Venice, could premiere at this year’s Venice Film Festival. While the screening is not confirmed, sources say the film is considering a submission to debut on the Lido. A Haunting In Venice is in production with an expected September 14 release in theaters. The Venice Film Festival runs from August 30 to September 9, making the event a prime candidate for Hercule Poirot’s next case.

Christie’s world-famous story occurs after World War II on All Hallows’ Eve. The synopsis for Christie’s classic novel reads: At a Halloween party, Joyce—a hostile thirteen-year-old—boasts that she once witnessed a murder. When no one believes her, she storms off home. But within hours, her body is found, still in the house, drowned in an apple-bobbing tub. Concerned parties call Hercule Poirot to discover the `evil presence’ that night. But first, he must establish whether he is looking for a murderer or a double murderer.

In Branagh’s A Haunting In Venice, Poirot begrudgingly attends a séance at a dilapidated, haunted palazzo when one of the guests becomes a victim of murder. Desperate to solve the case, Poirot becomes pulled into a twisted world where humans might not be the only monsters lurking.

Branagh’s adaptations of Christie’s work (Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile) always include a starry cast, and A Haunting In Venice is no different. Branagh will reprise his role as Hercule Poirot, with Kyle Allen, Camille Cottin, Jamie Doran, Tina Fey, Jude Hill, Ali Khan, Emma Laird, Kelly Reilly, Michelle Yeoh, and Italian star Riccardo Scamarcio also starring.

In addition to his starring role, Branagh will also direct from a script by Michael Green. One of the reasons the Lido premiere is questionable is the expense of bringing all the stars to Venice. Flying everyone out first class with 5-star accommodations would cost a small fortune. Still, the price of doing business in Hollywood is always high, so the powers that be might have to pony up if they want that sweet Venice Film Festival real estate.

Are you excited about Kenneth Branagh’s A Haunting In Venice? Do you think the studio will foot the bill to bring the cast to the Venice Film Festival? Let us know in the comments below.