Written by Shona Smith on Oct 1, 2019. Posted in Production News

Production begins on Death on the Nile, reuniting the filmmakers behind Murder on the Orient Express

The film brings together the filmmaking team behind Murder on the Orient Express for another Agatha Christie adaptation.

Both films were based at Longcross Studios in Surrey. While Murder on the Orient Express was set in Europe, shooting took place in Switzerland, New Zealand and Malta. The upcoming Death no the Nile will be filming in Egypt.

The screenplay is an adaptation of a 1937 Agatha Christie novel, which sees Belgian detective Hercule Poirot aboard a glamorous river steamer and descends into a terrifying search for a murderer when an idyllic honeymoon is shattered by violent deaths.

“Crimes of passion are dangerously sexy,” says Kenneth Branagh who is returning to direct and star in the film. “Agatha Christie has written a riveting story of emotional chaos and violent criminality and Michael Green has once again written a screenplay to match. With a cherished group of long-time artistic collaborators and a brilliant international cast, it is truly a pleasure to join Disney, Fox and Agatha Christie, Ltd. in bringing this daring thriller to the big screen. There are significant new twists, an awe-inspiring desert landscape and a chance to celebrate big screen entertainment in glorious 65 millimetre celluloid!”

The Twentieth Century Fox feature reunites the filmmaking team from 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express with Kenneth Branagh returning as director and in a starring role as the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. Also returning is writer Michael Green and producers Ridley Scott, Mark Gordon, Simon Kinberg, Kenneth Branagh and Judy Hofflund as well as executive producers Matthew Jenkins and James Pritchard.

The cast is made up of Tome Bateman, Annette Benning (Captain Marvel), Russel Brand (Ballers), Ali Fazel (Victoria & Abdul), Dawn French (French and Saunders), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Armie Hammer (Call Me by Your Name), Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones), Emma Mackey (Sex Education), Sophie Okonedo (The Secret Life of Bees), Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous) and Letitia Wright (Black Panther).

Egypt currently does not have a filming incentive, but the UK 25% cash rebate is applicable to projects with at least 10% of core expenditure in the UK which includes pre-production, principal photography, visual effects or post-production. The relief is capped at 80% of core expenditure but there is not limit on the budget of the film.