Though the story is over 80 years old, Agatha Christie’s seminal mystery novel MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS clearly still holds a power on the audience. Detailing the investigation aboard a train after one of the passengers is found murdered, it has one of the most famous endings in detective literature, as well as one of the most famous detectives: eccentric genius Hercule Poirot. A character portrayed by several different actors in the last few decades, the 2017 version is inhabited by Kenneth Branagh, who also directs the latest adaptation. As is necessary for the title, an all-star cast has been assembled to populate the thriller, and JoBlo.com was fortunate enough to be invited to talk to most of them in London!
We should start with Mr. Branagh, whose baby this is. The celebrated actor-director gives an intense and quirky performance as Poirot, dominating every scene he’s in. We spoke about his passion for the project, assembling the impressive cast, directing himself and more!
Next, we have Josh Gad, Daisy Ridley and Leslie Odom, Jr., who play three of the many suspects aboard the Orient Express. The three actors have great chemistry together, as you’ll see; we chat about working in a big ensemble, the play-like atmosphere of the set, who’d make a good criminal accomplice and more.
Among the veteran castmembers in the film are Michelle Pfeiffer and Willem Dafoe, both of whom should require no introduction. Playing two of the more mysterious passengers, Pfeiffer and Dafoe lend both sophistication and menace to the proceedings. The actors spoke about the return of the lavish Hollywood drama, working with Branagh and how they prepared for their parts.
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS is filled with several new faces in addition to the familiar ones. Two such newcomers are Sergei Polunin and Lucy Boynton. While Boynton may already be a somewhat known to you, thanks to her breakout turn in SING STREET, this is Polunin’s very first feature (he’s an accomplished ballet dancer by trade). We talked about Polunin’s overwhelming experience and what it’s like being a part of such a distinguished cast.
Last but not least, we have another trio of actors: Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Derek Jacobi and Tom Bateman. Jacobi is a veteran of both stage and screen, and he’s worked with Kenneth Branagh several times prior to ORIENT EXPRESS; Garcia-Rulfo was recently seen in THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN and Bateman is an alum of the renowned London Academy of Dramatic Art and was a member of Branagh’s repertory company. We spoke about what makes ORIENT EXPRESS withstand the test of time, working together, and of course, who among them would make for the best criminal accomplice.