Hercule Poirot 3, officially known as ‘A Haunting in Venice’, is the third instalment of the modern-day adaptation of Agatha Christie’s famed fictional detective the Belgian Sleuth Hercule Poirot. The feature-length film based on the novel ‘Hallowe’en Party’ by Christie is slated to hit the theaters on September 15, 2023. With the box office success of the previous two entries namely, ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ and ‘Death on the Nile’; Hercule Poirot 3 gives us much to desire and expect.
When Kenneth Branagh started the project to reanimate Hercule Poirot in a totally new franchise, critics were not very optimistic about the idea. Agatha Christie is by far the best-selling author of whodunits and numerous adaptions were done on her prized creations over the years. So, many were skeptical about what Branagh could bring to the table in the adaptations that would attract the audience with renewed vigor and hunger.
With just the first instalment of ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ the audience was hooked. It’s the same old story that we have read countless times and watched the screen adaptations over and over but, our fascination towards Christie’s works has never diminished even a little, and that is what Branagh gambled on to succeed. He kept it simple but improved the experience with modern-day technology and vivid imagery.
What We Know About Hercule Poirot 3
The film is named ‘A Haunting in Venice’ which is not typical of Hercule Poirot’s films. We have always seen the screen adaptations keep the original novel names throughout history but this is one exception and I must say the name does sound a lot better than ‘Hallowe’en Party’ that was given by Agatha Christie to her original work. Well, good naming sense is absolutely necessary to attract the audience nowadays.
Hercule Poirot 3 will be released in theaters on September 15, 2023, and that means work on the project has been ongoing for quite a while. ‘Death on the Nile’, the second entry of the series was screened in 2022. So, the announcement of the third instalment so early was completely unexpected. Unexpected yes but a pleasant surprise indeed.
The previous two entries got mixed reviews overall but grossed hefty millions over the production budget to achieve much-needed monetary success. Also, the films were much appreciated by the critics. So, we can assume Hercule Poirot 3 will garner profits around the world as well.
Plot & Characters
The detective story this time has a slight twist. How?!! You may ask. Well, it is a supernatural mystery this time around with a supposed haunting in place and that is why the film’s name is ‘A Haunting in Venice’.
The timeline is, post World War 2 in Venice, Italy. After retirement Detective Hercule Poirot is living a secluded life in the Floating City. He is invited to a séance and refuses immediately to attend. However, due to unavoidable circumstances, he is forced to join albeit reluctantly. The next thing you know a guest is murdered in the palazzo where the séance is taking place. The palazzo in question is rumored to be haunted.
Now, another brutal murder case is sprung in front of the legendary detective and he must come out of retirement to solve this seemingly supernatural mystery. Hercule Poirot has to put his rusty but not forgotten deductive skills out in order to solve the case that may uncover buried secrets and awaken a frightening ghost of past times.
Cast & Crew
Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh stars in the upcoming supernatural mystery flick along with a star-studded cast. Kenneth Branagh is set to reprise his portrayal of the timeless Belgian Detective Hercule Poirot and trust me this is a version that surely doesn’t disappoint. The rest of the cast includes acclaimed and popular stars Tina Fey, Jude Hill, Kelly Reilly and Jamie Dornan.
Similar to the first two films, Kenneth Branagh dons the robes of the Director once again in this third instalment. Michael Green wrote the screenplay for A Haunting in Venice as he did for the previous titles as well. Judy Hoffman, Mark Gordon, Simon Kinberg, Ridley Scott, and James Prichard are the producers. 20th Century Studios has been announced as the main production house.
What To Expect
We can set our expectations based on the information we have of the previous entries. Both ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ and ‘Death on the Nile’ were absolutely stunning films. If we are to base our assumption on them, ‘A Haunting in Venice’ is bound to be a fairly enjoyable ride with dramatic instances, action-packed scenes, and evocative imagery.
Also, the talented cast and skilled crew involved in the project are bound to give us something worth looking forward to. And, that is exactly why I am recommending ‘A Haunting in Venice’ to the readers of Deshi Geek. Let us hold our hearts and eagerly wait together for what is to come will give us pure entertainment!
