During the final scene of the 2017 film adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, the brilliant Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh, who also directed the film) finds himself called away to Egypt to solve yet another case. Now, three years later, Poirot returns to bring another murderer to justice in Death on the Nile, revealed to be releasing on October 23, 2020.
Originally published in 1937, Death on the Nile tells the story of Poirot traveling down the titular river on a luxury steamer. Aboard the boat are a collection of unique characters, many with hidden connections to one another and secrets to hide. When a love triangle between three passengers leads to murder, it is up to Poirot to solve the case and identify the killer before the boat reaches its final destination.
The film sees Branagh return in the role of Poirot alongside Thomas Bateman as Bouc, the detective’s sidekick. Similar to Murder on the Orient Express, the film will feature an absolutely star-studded cast, including Gal Gadot as socialite Linnet Ridgeway-Doyle, Armie Hammer as her husband Simon Doyle, and Emma Mackey as Simon’s scorned ex-lover Jacqueline de Bellefort. Also joining the cast are Russell Brand, Annette Bening, Sophie Okonedo, Rose Leslie, Dawn French, and many others.
Take a look at the film’s first official trailer, which features a brief introduction to a number of key characters as Poirot’s narration discusses how personally affected he is by this case. Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express received generally positive reviews, and grossed over $300 million internationally – and, just from a single trailer alone, it looks as though Death on the Nile will ably fill these rather large shoes.
It is currently unknown whether Death on the Nile will be able to release in theaters due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Several other films this year have moved to an immediate home streaming release, but Death on the Nile has not yet done so.
