Angelina Jolie Circles ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ Remake

10/06/2016 - Angelina Jolie is in early talks to board Fox’s remake of Murder on the Orient Express.

Fellow actor/director Kenneth Branagh is helming the film, in addition to starring as Hercule Poirot. The producers are Branagh, Ridley Scott, Simon Kinberg and Mark Gordon. Michael Schaefer and Aditya Sood will also produce in some capacity. Michael Green (“Blade Runner 2”) is writing the screenplay based on Agatha Christie’s novel, with Steve Asbell overseeing the production for Fox. Christie’s book, published in 1934, revolves around a murder onboard the famous train. The film follows Belgian detective Poirot who’s tasked with solving the case — in which a number of passengers could potentially be the murderer. Variety reported in 2013 that Fox was developing the project as a remake of Sidney Lumet’s 1974 movie, which starred Albert Finney as the genius detective investigating the murder of an American tycoon aboard the train. The all-star cast of suspects included Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Jacqueline Bisset, Colin Blakely, Sean Connery, John Gielgud, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave and Michael York. “Orient Express” was a commercial success, grossing $35 million in the U.S. It was also nominated for six Academy Awards, earning Bergman, who portrayed a Swedish missionary, her third Oscar — her first in the supporting category. Christie’s novel was adapted again for a 2001 CBS show starring Alfred Molina and Leslie Caron. Branagh’s directing credits include “Henry V,” “Thor” and “Cinderella.” Jolie starred in and directed Universal’s 2015 drama “By the Sea” opposite spouse Brad Pitt. The news about “Orient Express” was first reported by the Daily Mail.

(VARIETY)