According to Variety, superstar Angelina Jolie (Maleficent, Wanted, Salt) is in early talks to join 20th Century Fox‘s new Murder on the Orient Express, adapting Agatha Christie’s acclaimed mystery novel. The two-time Oscar winner would join five-time Academy Award nominee Kenneth Branagh (Cinderella, Thor, My Week with Marilyn), who is set to star as Belgian detective Hercule Poirot as well as direct.
Agatha Christie’s novel, published in 1934, is considered one of the most ingenious stories ever devised. It revolves around a murder onboard the famous train, and Poirot must solve the case – but there are a number of passengers who could potentially be the murderer.
Ridley Scott (The Martian), Simon Kinberg (The Martian, X-Men: Days of Future Past), Mark Gordon (Steve Jobs) and Branagh will produce the Murder on the Orient Express movie. Michael Schaefer and Aditya Sood will also produce in some capacity. Michael Green (Blade Runner 2) is writing the screenplay, with Steve Asbell overseeing the production for Fox. James Prichard and Hilary Strong will both executive produce.
Although several TV versions have been made, Murder on the Orient Express was previously – and most famously – adapted by director Sidney Lumet in a lavish 1974 feature starring Albert Finney as Poirot along with Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Jacqueline Bisset, Colin Blakely, Sean Connery, John Gielgud, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Martin Balsam and Michael York.
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(Photo Credit: WENN.com)
