The BBC has confirmed the new lead star taking on Agatha Christie's iconic detective Hercule Poirot in the upcoming drama series titled Hercule.
Edward Bluemel, known for his role as Lord Guildford Dudley in My Lady Jane, will take on the role of Poirot for the new series, which is set to follow the legendary detective's first cases in London before he becomes the world’s most famous sleuth.
Per the official press release, the series is "an intimate study of Hercule the man and an epic portrait of Britain between the wars".
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The description continues: "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…"
The six-part series is written by Code of Silence's Benji Walters, with Dracula's Jonny Campbell on board to direct the first two episodes. Charlie Palmer serves as producer.
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On his casting, Bluemel said: "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."
Filming will begin this summer, primarily in Liverpool. Hercule will premiere on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, and on BritBox in North America, though a release date has yet to be announced.
Bluemel recently starred in another Agatha Christie adaptation, playing Jimmy Thesiger in the Netflix mystery series Agatha Christie's Seven Dials.
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Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama said: "Hercule Poirot is one of the greatest and most loved characters of all time, and bringing him back to the BBC is a real privilege.
"From the first moments of Edward’s audition we knew we’d found the perfect actor for Hercule, with a performance that feels both fresh and exciting, yet quintessentially Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. We can’t wait for viewers to meet him."
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Harriet is a freelance news writer specialising in TV and movies at Digital Spy.
A horror enthusiast, she joined Digital Spy after working on her own horror website, reviewing films and focusing largely on feminism in the genre.
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