We Might Regret This star lands title role of iconic detective in planned three-series run

The BBC and BritBox North America have co-commissioned Mammoth Screen to produce a drama series reviving the iconic fictional detective Hercule Poirot.

In the 6 x 60-minute Hercule, We Might Regret This star Edward Bluemel will play Agatha Christie’s Belgian hero, which will be produced with Agatha Christie Limited.

The series will spotlight three of Christie’s most celebrated stories, charting Poirot’s burgeoning friendship with Captain Arthur Hastings and his early encounters with Scotland Yard’s James Japp.

It is understood there are plans for three series of the reboot with the BBC.

Hercule follows the iconic ITV drama Poirot, starring David Suchet, which ran for 24 years until 2013.

The series will film primarily in Liverpool. It is written and exec produced by Benji Walters (Code of Silence), and the series producer is Charlie Palmer (A Woman of Substance). Jonny Campbell (Am I Being Unreasonable?), will direct the first two episodes and exec produce.

The other exec producers are Rebecca Durbin and Damien Timmer for ITV Studios-owned Mammoth Screen, Nick Lambon for the BBC, Robert Schildhouse, Jon Farrar, and Stephen Nye for BritBox, and Christie’s great-grandson James Prichard for Agatha Christie Limited.

Durbin and Timmer said: “Edward Bluemel and Benji Walters are both extraordinary talents and it is a joy to see them take on this beloved character and make him their own.

“Hercule is both a love letter to Agatha Christie and a fascinating new perspective on an iconic figure.”

Prichard said: “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.

“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.”

Director of BBC drama Lindsay Salt called it a “privilege” to bring back one of the “most loved characters of all time”.

“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,” she added.

BBC Studios’ chief content officer, direct-to-consumer, Jon Farrar, added: “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.”

Fifth Season will handle distribution.

Mammoth Screen is behind numerous recent Agatha Christie adaptations for the BBC and BritBox including Towards Zero and Murder is Easy.