Kenneth Branagh, 59, is back as the legendary mustached detective Hercule Poirot to suss out an all-new killer from a crop of famous faces traveling down the Nile.
Gal Gadot, Leticia Wright and Armie Hammer co-star in first trailer for Death on the Nile, the star-studded upcoming adaptation of an Agatha Christie mystery, which dropped Wednesday.
The film serves as the sequel to 2017’s hit Murder on the Orient Express which once again teams up Branagh as star and director with screenwriter Michael Green.
Whodunit? Kenneth Branagh is back as the legendary Detective Hercule Poirot to suss out an all-new killer from a crop of famous famous in the first trailer for Death on the Nile, which dropped on Wednesday
Set on a glamorous river cruise down the Nile, Detective Poirot’s luxurious holiday becomes a murder investigation when someone on the boat turns up dead.
‘The romance of the desert has the power to seduce,’ Poirot begins in a voiceover over picturesque snaps of the world famous Egyptian pyramids.
He asks: ‘Have you ever loved so much, been so possessed by jealousy, that you might kill?’
For the Agatha Christie sequel, Branagh appears to have given his stalwart detective a bit of a make-under.
All-star: Gal Gadot leads a star-studded cast including Leticia Wright and Armie Hammer in the thrilling murder mystery
Mystery: Set on a glamorous river cruise down the Nile, Detective Poirot’s luxurious holiday becomes a murder investigation when someone on the boat turns up dead
‘The romance of the desert has the power to seduce,’ Poirot begins in a voiceover over picturesque snaps of the world famous Egyptian pyramids and the Nile river
Poirot’s legendary mustache has been significantly toned down for Death on the Nile, a contrast to the over-the-top bushy grooming from Murder on the Orient Express.
The upcoming murder mystery is based on Christie’s 1937 novel of the same name, one of 66 titles written by the author. She is the best selling fiction writer of all time.
The thrilling whodunit sees a relationship turn into a jealous love triangle, turn into betrayal and finally, a murder. And, everyone is a suspect.
Cleaned up! Poirot’s legendary mustache has been significantly toned down for Death on the Nile (right), a contrast to the over-the-top bushy grooming from Murder on the Orient Express (left)
Branagh brought together an all-star ensemble cast with Gal Gadot, Letitia Wright, Armie Hammer, Annette Bening, Ali Fazal, Sophie Okonedo, Tom Bateman, Emma Mackey, Dawn French, Rose Leslie, Jennifer Saunders, and Russell Brand.
The group of characters-turned-suspects is made up of both employees on the river steamer as well as travelers and they all seem to have a motive to kill.
The trailer sees holiday makers enjoying the stunning vistas off the boat deck, drinking, dancing and partying until a piercing scream changes everything.
‘Have you ever loved so much, been so possessed by jealousy, that you might kill?’
Pointing fingers: The thrilling whodunit sees a relationship turn into a jealous love triangle, turn into betrayal and finally, a murder
Death: When a young heiress turns up dead on the boat, Poirot sees everyone as a potential suspects and one of them will be unmasked as the killer by the film’s end
When a young heiress turns up dead on the boat, Poirot sees everyone as a potential suspects and one of them will be unmasked as the killer by the film’s end.
In his signature Poirot style, the detective brings everyone together in one room and systematically weaves the story of the murder and the murderer.
‘The crime is murder, the murderer is one of you,’ Branagh’s mustached Poirot tells the room of suspects.
Star power: Branagh brought together an all-star ensemble cast with Gal Gadot, Letitia Wright, Armie Hammer, Annette Bening, Ali Fazal, Sophie Okonedo, Tom Bateman, Emma Mackey, Dawn French, Rose Leslie, Jennifer Saunders, and Russell Brand
Behind the scenes: The film will have an authentic vibe as it was shot on location in Egypt
Everything changes: Drinking, dancing and partying on the cruise gives way to a murder investigation in Death on the Nile
Death on the Nile is the second in Branagh’s adaptations of Christie’s novels and has his sights set on creating a film franchise based on the iconic mystery writers 66 works.
This is not the first adaptation of the book, however, an earlier 1978 version was equally star-studded seeing Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury and Maggie Smith in key roles.
Death on the Nile is expected out this fall and earlier in the pandemic, Branagh had said that he had his sights set on a theater opening.
Talented! Branagh not only stars in the film but also directs – as he did in Murder on the Orient express
Way back when: This is not the first adaptation of the book, however, an earlier 1978 version starred Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury and Maggie Smith
‘The studio have seen the film and are very very supportive of it. We are very excited by it,’ Kenneth told EW in May.
Adding: ‘We are continuing to fly the flag for the big screen experience. We’re prone to the challenges of social distancing and isolation (but) so far so good.’
The film is set to be released October 23, 2020.
Coming soon: Death on the Nile is set to be released October 23, 2020