Kenneth Branagh”s big screen take on the classic Agatha Christie whodunnit Murder on the Orient Express is due to begin principal photography in the UK at the end of the year.

The feature is in the very early stages of pre-production at a major UK studio – details can be found on Production Intelligence – with a UK casting director among the first confirmed key hires. Subscribers should follow the project as we will be detailing more HoDs very soon.

Branagh has been busy for much of this year with the inaugural season of plays from his new Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company, but has recently fitted in filming his role in Christopher Nolan”s Dunkirk.

Murder on the Orient Express marks his return to feature directing following the huge hit Cinderella, which started shooting in the UK in late summer 2013.

Angelina Jolie is one of the star names reportedly circling the feature, which will see Branagh play the much-loved Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. The film is produced by Branagh, Mark Gordon, Simon Kinberg and Ridley Scott, with a screenplay by Michael Green. There will also be a stint of filming in Malta.

Kenneth Branagh photo via Getty Images /Frederick M Brown.