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PEOPLE & ARTS A31
Thursday 28 December 2017
Branagh teases return of old friends in ‘Death on the Nile’
By RYAN PEARSON nelope Cruz and Michelle idea of a Poirot-slash-Chris- In this Nov. 20, 2017, file photo, Kenneth Branagh attends the
AP Entertainment Writer Pfeiffer. It was a global hit tie “cinematic universe” — 45th International Emmy Awards at the New York Hilton in New
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ken- after its release in early the popular term for a se- York.
neth Branagh is teasing the November. Branagh says ries of interlocking films that
return of “old friends” in his he was glad to see audi- bring various characters Associated Press
planned sequel to “Murder ences responding to his together. “I think there are
on the Orient Express.” quirky portrayal of Poirot possibilities, aren’t there?
Branagh is expected to and looks forward to see- With 66 books and short sto-
both direct and reprise his ing how that will evolve in ries and plays, she — and
role as the fancifully mus- the sequel. she often brings people
tachioed lead character “One of the things that I together in her own books
Detective Hercule Poirot liked — really loved doing actually, so innately — she
in “Death on the Nile,” an- here that the audience re- enjoyed that,” he says.
other mystery based on sponded to was that Hercu- “You feel as though there is
an Agatha Christie novel, le Poirot, for all his intellec- a world — just like with Dick-
which screenwriter Michael tual power, got dragged ens, there’s a complete
Green will return to adapt. into it, got dragged into world that she’s created —
Branagh says he’s excited feeling it. And I think it’s a certain kinds of characters
to gather an ensemble cast hell of a trip, that trip down who live in her world — that
that could possibly include the Nile. So I think it would I think has real possibilities.”
bringing back some “old be great to see how he, However, Branagh says he
friends” to explore “primal how his heart, responds to hasn’t exactly floated that
human emotions” like “ob- that kind of intensity,” he idea with any of the brass
sessive love and jealousy said. Christie’s 1937 novel, at 20th Century Fox.
and sex” that make for a “Death on the Nile,” was “I bet they’ve been think-
“very dangerous atmo- previously adapted into a ing about it though,” he
sphere.” 1978 film starring Peter Us- says. “Murder on the Orient
The tense whodunit “Mur- tinov, Bette Davis, Mia Far- Express” will be released on
der on the Orient Express” row and Maggie Smith. home video in the com-
featured an all-star cast in- With a wealth of source ing months. “Death on the
cluding Johnny Depp, Dai- material to draw from, Nile” is in the early stages of
sy Ridley, Judi Dench, Pe- Branagh also endorses the pre-production.q
