Kenneth Branagh is in talks to direct a new film version of Agatha Christie’s genteel tale of train slaughter, Murder on the Orient Express.
If the film proceeds, it will be the fourth screen transfer for the story, which concerns a mysterious death on a train departing from Istanbul and boasting a picturesque selection of passengers. The novel was most famously adapted in 1974 for a film starring Albert Finney as Belgium sleuth Hercule Poirot; subsequent TV versions in 2001 and 2010 starred Alfred Molina and David Suchet. No casting announcements have yet been made, although the ascendancy of smouldering period-drama hunk Matthias Schoenaerts has meant that for the first time in years, a bona fide Belgium movie star is available. Branagh’s most recent movie, Cinderella, took $530 million (Dh1.9 billion) worldwide. Previous movies Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit and Thor were also mainstream hits. His previous history with murder involves a well-reviewed stage version of Macbeth (Martin Scorsese is linked to the film transfer) and a less-keenly received remake of tricksy whodunnit film Sleuth.
