Kenneth Branagh Back as Poirot for ‘A Haunting in Venice’

The director/actor will be back as Hercule Poirot for his latest Agatha Christie adaptation, this time inspired by 1969 novel ‘Hallowe’en Party’.

Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios’ 'Death on the Nile,' a mystery-thriller directed by Kenneth Branagh based on Agatha Christie’s 1937 novel. Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2020 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

While ‘Death on the Nile’ suffered from mixed reviews and relatively quiet box office, 20th Century Studios seems eager to stay in business with producer/director/star Kenneth Branagh, who has been busy setting up his next Agatha Christie adaptation.

With Michael Green – who wrote both ‘Death’ and ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ for the filmmaker – once again cranking out the script, Branagh is ready to make ‘A Haunting in Venice’ as his next film.

The story this time, as opposed to sticking with the book’s title, adapts Christie’s 1969 novel ‘Hallowe’en Party’.

Set in post-World War II Venice on All Hallows’ Eve, ‘A Haunting in Venice’ is described as a terrifying mystery featuring the return of the celebrated sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the world’s most glamorous city, Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.

Naturally, Branagh and his epic (albeit fake) mustache will be back as Poirot, delving into another mystery. And he has, in keeping with the other two movies, assembled an impressive, eclectic ensemble.

Partly, ‘A Haunting in Venice’ will serve as a ‘Belfast’ reunion for the director, since he’s cast Jamie Dornan (who played a version of his father in the nostalgic, Oscar-winning drama) and Jude Hill (the young actor bringing to life a character based on Branagh’s own youth).

But that’s just the start. We can also expect to see Tina Fey (best known for her writing and performing work on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ’30 Rock’), Michelle Yeoh (who needs little introduction but kicked ass this year in ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’), ‘Mayor of Kingstown’s Emma Laird, ‘Yellowstone’ actor Kelly Reilly, Riccardo Scamarcio from ‘John Wick: Chapter 3’, Ali Khan of ‘6 Underground’ and ‘West Side Story’s Kyle Allen.

“This is a fantastic development of the character Hercule Poirot, as well as the Agatha Christie franchise,” Branagh enthuses. “Based on a complex, little known tale of mystery set at Halloween in a pictorially ravishing city, it is an amazing opportunity for us, as filmmakers, and we are relishing the chance to deliver something truly spine-chilling for our loyal movie audiences.”

“We are enormously privileged to continue our long collaboration with the incomparable Sir Kenneth Branagh and couldn’t be more excited by the bold new creative direction Ken, Michael, and the rest of the filmmaking team have taken with this latest film,” says 20th Century Studios president Steve Asbell. “We also remain grateful to James Prichard and the rest of our friends at Agatha Christie, Ltd., for their partnership and for once again entrusting us with, as Poirot modestly calls himself, ‘probably the greatest detective in the world.’”

The director will start the cameras rolling on possibly the most suitable date possible – October 31, with shooting scheduled for Pinewood Studios outside London and on location in Venice.

No exact date has been announced, but ‘A Haunting in Venice’ should be scaring audiences in theaters next year.