Remake of 'Murder on the Orient Express' To Begin Filming

For the first time since 1974, Agatha Christie's 1934 literary classic Murder on the Orient Express will be adapted to theaters. Tentatively due to release on November 22 of next year, the story will be remade by Kenneth Branagh. Best known for his film adaptations of Shakespeare and for his role as Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Branagh will direct and star in the movie, which is to begin filming in London this month.The adaptation centers around renowned, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, played by Branagh himself, as he investigates the murder of a wealthy American traveling on a train in the compartment next to him. The murder victim has stabbed twelve times in his locked compartment, and Poirot investigates the other passengers of the train to determine the murderer as the train is trapped in a terrible snowstorm.The movie contains an all-star cast, with Dame Judi Dench, Johny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Leslie Odom Jr., and Michelle Pfeiffer playing lead roles. Johnny Depp has been cast as the murder victim, Ratchett, and his co-star in the movie Dark Shadows," Michelle Pfeiffer, is set to play the glamorous American passenger Mrs. Hubbard, the role of whom was turned down by Angelina Jolie.Daisy Ridley has reportedly been chosen for the part of Mary Debenham, a working secretary who is in love with Leslie Odom Jr.'s character Dr. Arbuthnot. Dench will play Princess Dragomiroff, and Tom Bateman, Josh Gad, and Miranda Raison will play Poirot's friend Bouc, Hector McQueen, and Sonia Armstrong respectively.The movie will be produced by studio 20th Century Fox. Branagh will the direct the movie with a script written by Michael Green. Branagh will also produce the movie along with executive producers James Prichard and Hillary Strong. Fox's Steve Asbell will oversee the film.