Wax up your whiskers, put your thinking cap on and prepare for adventure, because production for Kenneth Branagh's MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS sequel, DEATH ON THE NILE, has officially begun.
Today brings the full cast list for Branagh's next mystery featuring Agatha Christie's classic character, Hercule Poirot! Based on the world-famous author's 1937 novel of the same name, DEATH ON THE NILE finds Poirot en route to Egypt to investigate the murder of a young heiress. Reuniting with Branagh (Hercule Poirot) and his magnificent mustache for his next investigation of a murder most foul is Tom Bateman, who plays Bouc. Joining the dynamic duo for a bit of magnifying glass-worthy murder solving are Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders and Letitia Wright.
Here's the official plot for DEATH ON THE NILE:
Hercule Poirot's Egyptian adventure aboard a glamorous river steamer descends into a terrifying search for a murderer when an idyllic honeymoon is shattered by violent deaths. This sinister tale of obsessive love and its murderous consequences plays out in an epic landscape of danger and foreboding, with enough shocking twists and turns to leave audiences unsettled and guessing until the final, shocking denouement.
"Crimes of passion are dangerously sexy," says Kenneth Branagh. "Agatha Christie has written a riveting story of emotional chaos and violent criminality and Michael Green has once again written a screenplay to match. With a cherished group of long-time artistic collaborators and a brilliant international cast, it is truly a pleasure to join Disney, Fox and Agatha Christie, Ltd. in bringing this daring thriller to the big screen. There are significant new twists, an awe-inspiring desert landscape and a chance to celebrate big screen entertainment in glorious 65 millimetre celluloid!"
The screenplay for the film is once again written by MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS scribe Michael Green with Ridley Scott, Mark Gordon, Simon Kinberg, Kenneth Branagh and Judy Hofflund returning as producers. Matthew Jenkins and James Prichard return as executive producers.
DEATH ON THE NILE, which is set to be shot using 65mm film, is set for an October 9, 2020 release.