"Pirates of Caribbean" star Johnny Depp, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" actress Daisy Ridley, "Skyfall" veteran Judi Dench, "Scarface" actress Michelle Pfeiffer, and "The Martian" actor Michael Peña have joined the ensemble for Fox's adaptation of Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express." It seems that there is a major celebrity wattage getting on board the project.
According to Variety, Depp, Pfeiffer, and Ridley are joining director Kenneth Branagh's production of the classic 1934 Christie murder mystery "Murder on the Orient Express." Branagh will not only direct but also star as detective Hercule Poirot.
Depp will play as a malevolent American Ratchett in the "Murder on the Orient Express," USA Today reported. He is murdered on the famed train. Each of the characters is found to have some connection to the loathed murdered man Ratchett.
Pfeiffer will play Mrs. Hubbard and Ridley as Mary Debenham in the "Murder on the Orient Express." Dench will play as Princess Dragomiroff and Peña as Marquez. Other cast members on board are "Sing Street" actress Lucy Boynton (Countess Andrenyi), "Jekyll & Hyde" actor Tom Bateman (Bouc), "Cinderella" actor Derek Jacobi (Masterman), and "Hamilton" star Leslie Odom Jr. (Doctor Arbuthnot).
Christie's novel "Murder" was published in 1934. It revolves around a murder onboard the famous train. Belgian detective Poirot is tasked with solving the case that has numerous suspects among the passengers.
Michael Green wrote the screenplay for "Murder on the Orient Express," with Steve Asbell overseeing the production for Fox.The producers are Branagh, Ridley Scott, Simon Kinberg, Mark Gordon, Michael Schaefer, Aditya Sood, and Judy Hofflund. The executive producers include James Prichard and Hilary Strong, both of Agatha Christie Limited.
To recall, director Sidney Lumet's "Murder on the Orient Express" in 1974 starred Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Sean Connery, Ingrid Bergman, John Gielgud, and Vanessa Redgrave. "By the Sea" star Angelina Jolie was in negotiations in June to join the cast but has since passed on the remake.
The production for "Murder on the Orient Express" begins this November in London. A few key roles are still to be cast before the production starts. The film is set to release in theaters on Nov. 22, 2017.
Watch the video of Johnny Depp joining "Murder on the Orient Express" movie: