The little grey cells are getting another workout, as the BBC is reportedly developing a major new television take on ‘Poirot’, with casting now underway for the next actor to step into the immaculately polished shoes of Agatha Christie’s legendary Belgian detective.
The new series is said to be housed at Mammoth Screen, the production company behind a number of BBC Christie adaptations including ‘And Then There Were None’ and ‘Murder Is Easy’. Mammoth also has a neat connection to Poirot history, as founder Damien Timmer executive-produced many episodes of ITV’s long-running ‘Poirot’, which starred David Suchet as Hercule Poirot across nearly 25 years.
According to reports, the BBC secured the project after a competitive bidding situation involving other broadcasters and streamers. The broadcaster is understood to have made a significant commitment to the series, with the potential for it to run for up to three seasons over the coming years.
The adaptation is being written by Benji Walters (Noughts + Crosses), who previously worked on a planned adaptation of Brideshead Revisited with Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name). Plot details are currently being kept under wraps, although production is expected to take place in Liverpool and the north-west of England over the summer.
Of course, any new version of Poirot comes with one very large, very perfectly waxed moustache-shaped question: who plays him?
For many UK viewers, David Suchet remains the definitive screen Poirot, having portrayed Christie’s detective from 1989 to 2013. More recently, John Malkovich (Billions) took on the role in BBC’s 2018 limited series ‘The ABC Murders’, while Kenneth Branagh (Wallander) has played Poirot on the big screen in Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, and A Haunting in Venice.
Created by Agatha Christie, Hercule Poirot appeared in 33 novels and 51 short stories, making him one of the most enduring detectives in fiction. Christie’s work continues to be in heavy demand on screen, with Netflix recently adapting Seven Dials, while BritBox is also developing Agatha Christie’s Tommy & Tuppence, bringing another of the author’s crime-solving creations back to television.
The BBC has not officially confirmed the new ‘Poirot’ series, but the news was broken by industry trade site Deadline.
‘Poirot’ is currently classed as “in development” so may, or may not, make it to series. We’ll let you know when we hear more!
4 comments
No. Just… no.
David Suchet was perfect as Poirot, there is absolutely no need to remake this. If you’ve ready watched the ITV version, you already know the stories and it isn’t like they can change them as then they won’t be faithful to the original stories, so why watch again. And if you’ve only read the books, again, just watch the ITV version.
And if they do deviate from the novels then that’s just silly.
When there’s already a truly brilliant version of something, theres no need to remake it. Just make something original that stands on its own merit.
There are six new official Poirot books by Sophie Hannah that could be adapted.
I supposed those books could be the basis the the new series. But unless they can get David Suchet (80) or Peter Ustinov (died), It may not be what it should be. It will take a lot to get someone to fill there shoes.If it’s a remake of what’s already been made then don’t do it.
BBC clearly has their heads firmly entrenched up their backside. They won’t be able to find a better Poirot then David Suchet. And remaking the Poirot is a waste of money.
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