Murtada here. Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is being remade by Kenneth Branagh. He will direct and play the lead part of Belgian detective Hercule Poirot who’s investigating a murder that happens on the famous train as it is making its way across Europe. The novel has been adapted several times, most famously into an Oscar winning film in 1974 by Sidney Lumet and an all star cast, led by Albert Finney as Poirot. Angelina Jolie was announced as Mrs Hubbard, an American loquacious socialite, played in 1974 version by Lauren Bacall. It’s good casting as the part calls a star with lots of presence.
Even though I haven’t read the Christie novel, I have seen the movie version and a 2010 British TV version with Jessica Chastain right before she hit it big. The story lends itself to an all star cast as basically every character gets an intro, one big scene and gets to participate in the finale. And everyone has a secret of course so the parts are juicy and fun and not too taxing on the actors. Hopefully lots of entertaining actors will sign up.
Who would you cast? Our suggestions for some of the characters after the jump...
Princess Natalia Dragomiroff (Dame Wendy Hiller), an elderly Russian royal - this is the role that Branagh is probably earmarking for his current favorite leading lady, Dame Judi Dench. And there’s no doubt she would be fun delivering haughty line readings, but may we suggest another Dame? Angela Lansbury.
Hildegarde Schmidt (Rachel Roberts), the Princess' personal maid - they are obviously going younger with this version since Jolie is more than a decade younger than Bacall was when she played Mrs Hubbard. Kirsten Dunst could have lots of fun with this part, imagine Torrance Shipman a bit older, a bit more bitter and German. Lansbury and Dunst in war of one liners? Gimme.
Colonel Arbuthnott (Sean Connery), an officer in the British Indian Army- they are always being compared as to who’s the best Bond, let’s see who's the best Colonel Arbuthnott. Daniel Craig
Mary Debenham (Vanessa Redgrave), a teacher who might be more intimate with the Colonel than she lets on - this is the role Chastain played in 2010. This is the most romantic character and requires an actress with subtle but deep and available emotions. How about Emayatzy Corinealdi? If only because we’ve imagined her in many parts since falling hard for her in Middle of Nowhere (2012).
Beddoes (Sir John Gielgud), the victim's English valet - Branagh will definitely give Derek Jacobi a part and he’s perfect for this one so let’s not go on a futile exercise by suggesting someone else.
Hector McQueen (Anthony Perkins), the victim's secretary and translator - since we’ve already brought in Bond, might as well bring in Q. Ben Whishaw.
There are a few others parts - Count and Countess Andrenyi (Michael York and Jacqueline Bissett in 1974) - and of course what has become the star part because of Oscar, Swedish missionary Greta (Ingrid Bergman). Who would you cast in the remaining parts? Who has the the charisma, uniqueness and nerve to take on Bergman?