BritBox announced Monday a new six-part series, Hercule, which will star British actor Edward Bluemel as Agatha Christie’s fictional Belgian detective Hercule Poirot.
The series — which follows Poirot’s first cases in London — is being produced by Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited — which manages the literary and media rights to the late author’s works — for BritBox North America and the BBC. Filming is set to begin this summer, primarily in Liverpool. The series will stream on BritBox in Canada and the U.S.
“The series is an intimate study of Hercule the man and an epic portrait of Britain between the wars. The series takes a magnifying glass to three of Christie’s most celebrated stories, while also charting Hercule’s burgeoning friendship with Captain Arthur Hastings, his early encounters with Scotland Yard’s James Japp, and introducing him to one particular nemesis…,” reads a description in a BritBox press release.
Hercule (six episodes x 60 minutes) is adapted by writer Benji Walters (Code of Silence, The Leopard, Obsession), who also serves as executive producer along with director Jonny Campbell (Am I Being Unreasonable?, Dracula, BAFTA winner for In the Flesh), James Prichard for Agatha Christie Limited, Rebecca Durbin and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, Nick Lambon for the BBC, and Robert Schildhouse, Jon Farrar and Stephen Nye for BritBox. Charlie Palmer (A Woman of Substance, Extraordinary) is series producer. Fifth Season is handling global distribution.
Lead actor Bluemel, known for his work in TV series such as We Might Regret This and My Lady Jane, commenting on his casting in Hercule, is quoted in BritBox’s press release as saying: “I feel very lucky to have been trusted with such an iconic character who has been played by so many great actors. I can’t wait to continue Hercule’s legacy.”
“Few characters in fiction are as iconic as Hercule Poirot,” Jon Farrar, chief content officer, direct to consumer, BBC Studios, said in a statement. “Agatha Christie’s stories have always been a cornerstone of BritBox and with Hercule, we have an opportunity to explore a fascinating new chapter in Hercule Poirot’s life, bringing a fresh perspective to a character audiences think they know so well. 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. 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.”
“My father had the privilege of working with David Suchet for nearly 25 years, and I now have the good fortune of being able to share my great grandmother’s brilliant stories with a new generation of viewers,” said James Prichard, executive producer for Agatha Christie Limited. “Edward Bluemel is an extremely talented performer and will make a great addition to the long line of actors that have played this celebrated character, aided and abetted by Benji Walters’ thoughtful scripts. I cannot wait to see Edward on screen as Hercule Poirot.”
Photo of Edward Bluemel courtesy of BritBox. Photo credit: Mammoth Screen/Jonathan Ford.
