The little grey cells have officially been activated. After reports emerged last month that the BBC was developing a major new take on Agatha Christie’s legendary Belgian detective, the broadcaster has now confirmed ‘Hercule‘, a brand-new six-part drama starring Edward Bluemel (We Might Regret This, My Lady Jane) as Hercule Poirot.
Produced by Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited for BBC and BritBox North America, ‘Hercule’ will follow Poirot’s first cases in London before he becomes the world’s most famous sleuth. The series is described as both an intimate study of Hercule the man and an epic portrait of Britain between the wars, taking “a magnifying glass” to three of Christie’s most celebrated stories.
The drama will also chart Hercule’s burgeoning friendship with Captain Arthur Hastings, his early encounters with Scotland Yard’s James Japp, and introduce him to one particular nemesis. Which, frankly, is exactly the sort of phrasing designed to make Christie fans start polishing their monocles and muttering theories into a cup of tea.
“I feel very lucky to have been trusted with such an iconic character who has been played by so many great actors. I can’t wait to continue Hercule’s legacy,” said Edward Bluemel.
The series is written by Benji Walters (Code of Silence, The Leopard, Obsession), with Jonny Campbell (Am I Being Unreasonable?, Dracula, In The Flesh) directing the first two episodes. Charlie Palmer (A Woman Of Substance, Extraordinary) serves as series producer.
Of course, any new Poirot comes with a very large, very carefully waxed moustache-shaped shadow. For many viewers, David Suchet remains the definitive screen version of Christie’s detective, having played Poirot across nearly 25 years on ITV. More recently, John Malkovich (Billions) took on the role in BBC’s ‘The ABC Murders’, while Kenneth Branagh (Wallander) has brought the character to the big screen in Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, and A Haunting in Venice.
James Prichard, executive producer for Agatha Christie Limited, said: “My father had the privilege of working with David Suchet for nearly 25 years, and I now have the good fortune of being able to share my great grandmother’s brilliant stories with a new generation of viewers. Edward Bluemel is an extremely talented performer and will make a great addition to the long line of actors that have played this celebrated character, aided and abetted by Benji Walters’ thoughtful scripts. I cannot wait to see Edward on screen as Hercule Poirot.”
Rebecca Durbin and Damien Timmer, executive producers for Mammoth Screen, added: “Edward Bluemel and Benji Walters are both extraordinary talents and it is a joy to see them take on this beloved character and make him their own. Hercule is both a love letter to Agatha Christie and a fascinating new perspective on an iconic figure – we hope viewers will find it as arresting as we do!”
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, said: “Hercule Poirot is one of the greatest and most loved characters of all time, and bringing him back to the BBC is a real privilege. From the first moments of Edward’s audition we knew we’d found the perfect actor for Hercule, with a performance that feels both fresh and exciting, yet quintessentially Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. We can’t wait for viewers to meet him.”
Jon Farrar, Chief Content Officer, Direct to Consumer, BBC Studios, commented: “Few characters in fiction are as iconic as Hercule Poirot. Agatha Christie’s stories have always been a cornerstone of BritBox and with Hercule, we have an opportunity to explore a fascinating new chapter in Hercule Poirot’s life, bringing a fresh perspective to a character audiences think they know so well. We’re delighted to greenlight a series that explores Hercule like never before, with Edward Bluemel bringing his charm, dynamism and wit to a beloved character. This is an ambitious reimagining of one of Christie’s greatest creations, and we can’t wait for audiences across North America to discover Hercule Poirot all over again.”
Created by Agatha Christie, Hercule Poirot remains one of the most famous detectives in fiction, with Christie’s novels selling more than 750 million copies worldwide. The character first appeared in The Mysterious Affair at Styles and went on to feature in 33 novels and more than 50 short stories.
‘Hercule’ is produced by Mammoth Screen, part of ITV Studios, and Agatha Christie Limited for the BBC and BritBox North America. The executive producers are Benji Walters and Jonny Campbell, James Prichard for Agatha Christie Limited, Rebecca Durbin and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, Nick Lambon for the BBC, and Robert Schildhouse, Jon Farrar, and Stephen Nye for BritBox. Fifth Season is handling global distribution.
Filming begins this summer, primarily in Liverpool. ‘Hercule‘ does not yet have a premiere date but will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK. If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date. Visit Never Miss.
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