The first trailer for Kenneth Branagh’s lavish remake of Murder on the Orient Express has arrived. When it comes to remakes and reboots, the emphasis is usually on making something bigger than what has gone before, and Murder on the Orient Express is no exception.
Rebooting the slight yet stylish mustache sported by David Suchet during his 25-year era as Hercule Poirot, Kenny B has opted for facial hair that would make Kurt Russell from The Hateful Eight envious.
The mustache might have caused some controversy, but the star-studded cast is just as impressive. Starring (deep breath) Tom Bateman, Lucy Boynton, Olivia Colman, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Derek Jacobi, Marwan Kenzari, Leslie Odom Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, Sergei Polunin, and Daisy Ridley. The atmospheric poster is dripping with class, but it does highlight the fact that living legend Derek Jacobi is still without an Oscar Nomination. How is that even possible?
Murder on The Orient Express is perhaps one of Agatha Christie’s most adapted stories, the 1974 version directed by Sidney Lumet is easily still the most well known. Albert Finney received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of the famed Belgium detective and featured on of the most prestigious casts ever assembled. Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Jacqueline Bisset, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Sean Connery, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave, and Michael York were amongst the suspects.
It remains unclear how faithful to the source material, but this will be the first time the book has been adapted for the big screen since Lumet’s version some 43 years ago. Directed by Kenneth Branagh and produced by Ridley Scott and X-Men overlord Simon Kinberg, Murder on the Orient Express is released in UK cinemas on November 10. Check out the first trailer below.