Kenneth Branagh to Direct and Star in Agatha Christie Reboot 'Murder on the Orient Express'

Five-time Academy Award nominee Kenneth Branagh will star as Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in a new adaptation of Agatha Christie’s beloved mystery “Murder on the Orient Express” for 20th Century Fox.

He had already been attached to direct the film, as TheWrap exclusively reported in June, from a script by Michael Green (“Blade Runner 2”).

In Christie’s 1934 novel, Poirot is called upon to solve a murder on board the famous train — choosing from a wide array of suspicious passengers.

Also Read: Kenneth Branagh in Talks to Direct Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express' (Exclusive)

Steve Asbell will oversee the production for Fox. Simon Kinberg, Ridley Scott and Mark Gordon will produce.

James Prichard and Hilary Strong will executive produce. Strong brokered the deal for Agatha Christie Ltd.

Branagh’s directing credits include the Oscar-nominated “Henry V,” Marvel’s “Thor” and Disney’s recent live-action “Cinderella.”

Also Read: 'And Then There Were None' Movie: Who Should Star in Agatha Christie's Mystery Masterpiece?

Branagh currently co-directs and appears on stage as Leontes in William Shakespeare‘s “The Winter’s Tale,” which also will be live broadcast to theaters on Nov. 26; and he co-directs and co-stars in Terrence Rattigan’s “Harlequinade,” which launches the yearlong theater season for the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company at the Garrick Theatre in London.

“The extraordinary thing about my Great Grandmother’s stories is just how timeless they are and how perfectly they lend themselves to the cinematic experience,” James Prichard, Chairman of Agatha Christie Ltd and Christie’s great-grandson, said in a statement. “We are genuinely excited about this partnership and with 33 Poirot stories to be told, we look forward to this being the first of many collaborations.”

25 Holiday Movies We're Dying to See (Photos)

"Love the Coopers" -- November 13

Four generations of the Cooper family come together for a gathering, at which they discover new family bonds and the spirit of the holidays. Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried, Marisa Tomei, Ed Helms, Diane Keaton, Anthony Mackie and John Goodman are among those starring in the film.
"Carol" -- November 20

A department store clerk (Rooney Mara) falls for an older, married woman (Cate Blanchett) in Todd Haynes' romantic drama set in 1950s New York.
"Secret in Their Eyes" -- November 20

Julia Roberts, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Nicole Kidman star in a drama about an FBI agent (Roberts) who embarks on a long investigation for her daughter's killer.
"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay -- Part 2" -- November 20

In the fifth and final movie of the franchise, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and her comrades in District 13 embark on a full-on revolution against the Capitol.
"Creed" -- November 25

Sylvester Stallone returns as Rocky Balboa, this time serving as trainer and mentor to Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the son of former enemy Apollo Creed.
"The Good Dinosaur" -- Nov. 25

Pixar's movie about the epic journey into the world of dinosaurs features an Apatosaurus as he makes an unlikely friend: a human boy.
"Victor Frankenstein" -- Nov. 25

In this retelling of Mary Shelley's classic, Daniel Radcliffe's Igor takes center stage as we learn about his dark origins and how he became the assistant of scientist Victor Frankenstein (James McAvoy).
"The Danish Girl" -- Nov. 25

Eddie Redmayne slips into the role of transgender pioneer Lili Elbe, who had what is considered to be the first successful gender reassignment surgery. Alicia Vikander and Amber Heard costar.
"Krampus" -- December 4

Just another little holiday horror film as a young boy conjures a Christmas demon.
"Macbeth" -- December 4

Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard star in Justin Kurzel's retelling of the classic Shakespeare tragedy.
"The Lady in the Van" -- December 4

Maggie Smith reprises her onstage role as a crotchety transient who parks herself on an otherwise quiet residential street.
"Youth" -- December 4

Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel play 70-something best friends who vacation together in the Alps -- but it's Jane Fonda's supporting role that's been getting most of the buzz.
"In the Heart of the Sea"" -- December 11

In Ron Howard's film, a 19th-century whaling ship is preyed upon by a sperm whale, which strands the crew at sea for 90 days. The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Tom Holland, Cillian Murphy and Benjamin Walker.
"The Big Short" -- December 11

Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, Brad Pitt and Christian Bale lead the ensemble in Adam McKay's fact-based exploration of the causes of the housing bubble and the Great Recession.
"Sisters" -- December 18

Amy Poehler and Tina Fey play two sisters who throw one last party before their parents sell the house where they grew up.
"Son of Saul" -- December 18

A prize winner at this year's Cannes, the Hungarian drama follows a Hungarian-Jewish prisoner at Auschwitz who finds a body be believes may be his son.
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" -- December 18

The continuation of the "Star Wars" saga, set 30 years after "Return of the Jedi," stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fischer, Adam Driver, John Boyega and Daisy Ridley.
"Concussion" -- December 25

Will Smith stars as Dr. Bennet Omalu, the neuropathologist who made the discovery of CTE, the football-related brain trauma. The film also features Alec Baldwin, Stephen Moyer and Luke Wilson.
"Daddy's Home" -- December 25

Will Ferrell is the ideal stepdad in this family comedy -- until the free-wheeling biological father (Mark Wahlberg) shows up.
"Joy" -- December 25

Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper step in front of the camera again in "Joy," a film about a suburban mom who launches a domestic goods empire. Robert De Niro and Dascha Polanco costar.
"Point Break" -- December 25

In the reboot of the 1991 Keanu Reeves-Patrick Swayze action classic, Luke Bracey stars as an FBI agent who goes undercover with extreme-sports athletes suspected of elaborate heists.
"The Hateful Eight" -- December 25

A bounty hunter (Kurt Russell) gets caught in a blizzard in 19th-century Wyoming and finds shelter with some very suspicious strangers. Quentin Tarantino's Western also stars Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bruce Dern and Walton Goggins.
"The Revenant" -- December 25

Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Hugh Glass, a trapper on the 19th-century American frontier seeking revenge on the people who left him for dead after a bear mauling. Tom Hardy, Will Poulter and Domhnall Gleeson also star.
"Anomalisa" -- December 30

Charlie Kaufman's new film, a prize winner at the Venice Film Festival, is a typically bizarre stop-motion animated dramedy about an author who struggles to connect with other people.