Agatha Christie’s New 6-Part Series Is Starting With One of Poirot’s Best Mysteries

When it comes to mystery authors, no name is quite as familiar and beloved as Agatha Christie. The novelist, who went on to write 66 detective novels, 14 short-story collections, and six romance novels over the course of her career, has compelled millions of readers and inspired several adaptations on the big and small screen. Most recently, BritBox announced their latest Christie-inspired series, titled Hercule.

While the series has yet to have a release date, some details of the production are already exciting viewers. The series, written by Benji Walters and directed by Jonny Campbell, will show a different side of Christie's beloved detective, Hercule Poirot. So while Poirot has been played onscreen many times, by David Suchet, Kenneth Branagh and John Malkovich, just to name a few, the series will see the iconic character in a new light, and tell some of Christie's best mysteries.

What Will 'Hercule' Be About?

The upcoming series will "take a magnifying glass" into three of Christie’s most celebrated stories, while also showing Hercule's young, formative years when he develops a friendship with Captain Arthur Hastings. It will also show his first encounter with Scotland Yard’s James Japp, and introduces him to his most notorious nemesis. Hercule will be played by Edward Bluemel, who's known for My Lady Jane and most recently stepped into the Christie world in Netflix's Agatha Christie's Seven Dials, where he played Jeremy Thesiger. “I feel very lucky to have been trusted with such an iconic character who has been played by so many great actors," Bluemel said in the series announcement on BritBox. "I can’t wait to continue Hercule’s legacy.”

Executives at BBC Studios, the studio behind the series, also echoed his excitement. "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," said Jon Farrar, Chief Content Officer, Direct to Consumer, BBC Studios. "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.” The six-episode series, which started filming sometime this summer, also has a confirmed cast. They include Jack Gleeson, James D’Arcy, Henry Ashton, Calvin Demba, Phil Dunning, Tamsin Greig, James Nesbitt, Guy Remmers, Rebecca Rittenhouse, and Mawaan Rizwan.

'Hercule' Will Give a Fresh New Take on a Beloved Agatha Christie Character

As mentioned by Farrar, Hercule will show a new side of Poirot, one that is still years away from the sharp, eccentric sleuth readers know and love. The interest in the show grows even further as details on which Christie novels will be brought to the show. Per CBR, the first confirmed story will be Lord Edgware Dies, Christie's 7th novel in the Hercule Poirot series which was published in 1933. The mystery kicks off when Poirot is approached by actress Jane Wilkinson, who asks for his help in securing a divorce from her husband, Lord Edgware. When he starts to help, however, the case already confounds him as Lord Edgware has already agreed to a divorce and has written to Jane to tell her so. Jane denies receiving the letter, but right when things seemed resolved, Lord Edgware ends up murdered. The story, also published as Thirteen at Dinner, features Poirot, Hastings, and Japp.

By choosing this intricate, quintessential Christie story, Hercule is setting itself up for success. Lord Edgware Dies as one of its first major Poirot stories is a smart move because it gives Bluemel’s younger detective a case that has Christie's staple mind-bending mystery, while already tied to the character’s screen legacy.

So while there's still plenty of time until Hercule premieres, it seems the series has everything to become BritBox's next detective hit. With Christie's suspenseful mysteries at the center, and an up-and-coming star offering a whole new side of a beloved character, Hercule will surely be a must-watch.