Tony Award winner Leslie Odom Jr. is in talks to join the cast of Kenneth Branagh’s remake of Murder on the Orient Express.
The former co-star of the blockbuster Broadway play, Hamilton will join Branagh will star as detective Hercule Poirot and direct the remake.
The film is based on one of Christie’s best-known books, which was first published in 1934 and revolves around a murder of an American businessman on board the famous train — with multiple suspects.
The 1974 version, directed by Sidney Lumet, starred Albert Finney as Poirot and the cast included Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Jacqueline Bisset, Colin Blakely, Sean Connery, John Gielgud, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave and Michael York. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards with Bergman winning an Oscar.
Michael Green (Blade Runner 2) is writing the screenplay based on Agatha Christie’s novel, with Steve Asbell overseeing the production for Fox. Branagh will produce the film with Ridley Scott, Simon Kinberg and Mark Gordon. Michael Schaefer and Aditya Sood will also produce in some capacity.
Odom won the Tony Award this year for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in Hamilton. He departed the Broadway production last month. He also appeared in the 2012 film, Red Tails.