Between 1920 and 1975, one man solved murders in 33 novels, two plays, and 51 published short stories. The star of one of the best-selling book franchises of all time, shipping over 750 million copies, of course, we’re talking about Hercule Poirot, the self-proclaimed “greatest detective in the world.” On screen, Poirot is a character made most famous by David Suchet, before being reborn again recently by the great Kenneth Branagh, in his trilogy of movies (Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, and A Haunting in Venice).
One of Agatha Christie‘s best-loved characters, Poirot’s moustache-twirling puzzle-solving is the stuff of legend and is undeniably timeless. With that in mind, prepare your notebooks and magnifying glasses, as we’re heading back into Christie’s mind with a brand-new interpretation of Poirot by the BBC and BritBox. It has officially been confirmed that Edward Bluemel (We Might Regret This), who recently stole hearts in the cruelly cancelled My Lady Jane, will take on the iconic Belgian detective in the new drama series Hercule, produced by Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited.
“I feel very lucky to have been trusted with such an iconic character who has been played by so many great actors. I can’t wait to continue Hercule’s legacy,” Bluemel said in a statement about the role, as he readies to work from scripts penned by Code of Silence‘s Benji Walters. Split into six parts, the series boasts the directorial talent of Jonny Campbell (Am I Being Unreasonable?) for its opening two episodes, and Charlie Palmer (A Woman of Substance) as series producer. Filming will begin this summer, primarily in Liverpool, and the show will eventually stream on BritBox in the US and Canada.
What is ‘Hercule’ About?
“Few characters in fiction are as iconic as Hercule Poirot,” wrote Jon Farrar, Chief Content Officer of BBC Studios, in a statement about the new series, and it is for this reason that the stakes are high for Hercule. With so many adaptations, both big and small budget, having graced our screens for many decades, how will the new series stand out? In the hope of shedding some light on what you might expect, a synopsis reads:
“The series is an intimate study of Hercule the man and an epic portrait of Britain between the wars. The series takes a magnifying glass to three of Christie’s most celebrated stories, while also charting Hercule’s burgeoning friendship with Captain Arthur Hastings, his early encounters with Scotland Yard’s James Japp, and introducing him to one particular nemesis…”
Hercule will come to BritBox soon.
via Collider