In what sounds like instant, must-watch telly, the legendary John Malkovich (Rounders, Billions, Being John Malkovich) will be playing iconic detective Hercule Poirot in new BBC One series, The ABC Murders.
The classic 1936 Agatha Christie tome is being adapted for telly by the immensely talented lady behind three other recent versions of the author’s work, Sarah Phelps. Phelps’ other series – And Then There Were None, The Witness For The Prosecution and Ordeal By Innocence – have all been extremely solid, and this one sounds like it’ll be storming, too.
Malkovich will be joined by none other than Rupert Grint (Harry Potter, Snatch) as Inspector Crome in The ABC Murders, with Andrew Buchan (Broadchurch) as Franklin Clarke, Eamon Farren (Twin Peaks) as Cust and Tara Fitzgerald (Game Of Thrones) as Lady Hermione Clarke. Bronwyn James (Harlots) will also star as Megan, along with Freya Mavor (Sunshine On Leith) as Thora Grey.
“Over the last three years Sarah has breathed new life into some of Agatha Christie’s most renowned crime stories and we can’t wait for her to do the same with Christie’s most iconic detective, Hercule Poirot,” remarked Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, in a statement. “We are utterly thrilled that John Malkovich has been persuaded to unleash his extraordinary abilities on this stellar role.”
“Set in the seething, suspicious early 1930s, The ABC Murders is a brutal story of violence and lies, the long shadow of the past and the slaughter to come. At its centre, one of the most familiar, famous characters in crime fiction. We may all think we know Poirot but do we really know Hercule?” Phelps added, ominously.
The new three-part series is likely to arrive in early 2019.
More on The ABC Murders as we get it, of course.