According to The Hollywood Reporter, acclaimed actor Willem Dafoe (John Wick, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Spider-Man) is joining the all-star cast director Kenneth Branagh is assembling for 20th Century Fox‘s new feature film adaptation of Agatha Christie’s acclaimed mystery Murder on the Orient Express. Dafoe will play train passenger Mr. Hardman, who claims to sell typewriting ribbons but might have ties to the murder victim.
Dafoe, who appears in the upcoming epic The Great Wall, is also set to voice Ryuk in the Death Note movie, and will play comics character Nuidis Vulko in Justice League and the Aquaman solo film.
In addition to directing Murder on the Orient Express, Branagh, a five-time Academy Award-nominee, will star as detective Hercule Poirot. Johnny Depp portrays Ratchett, Michelle Pfeiffer is Mrs. Hubbard, and Daisy Ridley plays Mary Debenham.
Oscar winner Judi Dench portrays Princess Dragomiroff, while Lucy Boynton is Countess Andrenyi. Tom Bateman plays Bouc, acclaimed stage actor and Tony winner Derek Jacobi portrays Masterman, Michael Peņa is Marquez, Josh Gad is Hector McQueen, “Hamilton” star Leslie Odom Jr. plays Doctor Arbuthnot, and Academy Award winner Penelope Cruz plays an unknown role.
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 Belgian detective Hercule Poirot must solve the case – but there are a number of passengers who could potentially be the murderer.
Murder on the Orient Express begins production in November in London.
Ridley Scott (The Martian), Simon Kinberg (The Martian, X-Men: Days of Future Past), Mark Gordon (Steve Jobs) and Branagh will produce the film. Michael Schaefer, Aditya Sood and Judy Hofflund will also produce. Michael Green (Blade Runner 2) wrote the screenplay, with Steve Asbell overseeing the production for Fox. James Prichard and Hilary Strong, both of Agatha Christie Ltd., will executive produce.
(Photo Credit: WENN.com)
