Calling all Agatha Christie fans! The BBC has issued a casting update on its upcoming six-part series, Hercule, which follows the Queen of Crime's iconic Belgian sleuth, Hercule.
Billed as an "intimate study of Hercule Poirot the man and an epic portrait of Britain between the wars," the series chronicles how the famous literary character became the world's greatest detective.
© BBC/Mammoth Screen/BritBox/Jonathan FordEdward Bluemel (We Might Regret This, My Lady Jane) leads the cast in the title role. He's joined by an impressive ensemble cast, including James D'Arcy (Oppenheimer, NCIS: Tony & Ziva), Tamsin Greig (Riot Women, Friday Night Dinner), James Nesbitt (Cold Feet, Run Away) and more.
As a lifelong Agatha Christie fan, I'm counting down the days until Hercule hits our TV screens. While I'll always associate Hercule Poirot with David Suchet's legendary 25-year tenure as the beloved detective, I have no doubt that Edward will bring a fresh energy to the role.
With filming due to commence in Liverpool shortly, keep reading to find out more…
Who else has joined the cast of Hercule?
The series boasts a cast of familiar faces, including Henry Ashton (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder), Calvin Demba (Supacell, Life), Phil Dunning (Smoggie Queens, Am I Being Unreasonable?), Jack Gleeson (House of Guinness, In the Land of the Saints and Sinners), Guy Remmers (The Buccaneers, Lessons), Rebecca Rittenhouse (His & Hers, Maggie) and Mawaan Rizwan (Juice, The Split Up).
© BBC / Drama RepublicWhat is Hercule about?
Written by Benji Walters (Code of Silence, The Leopard, Obsession), the series centres around three of Agatha Christie's early stories, chronicling how Poirot became the world's greatest sleuth.
It also introduces the detective to "future friends and allies and one particular nemesis," according to the synopsis.
© LightRocket via Getty ImagesJon Farrar, Chief Content Officer at BBC Studios, previously teased the six-parter as an "ambitious reimagining of one of Christie's greatest creations".
"Few characters in fiction are as iconic as Hercule Poirot," he said. "Agatha Christie's stories have always been a cornerstone of BritBox and with Hercule, we have an opportunity to explore a fascinating new chapter in Hercule Poirot's life, bringing a fresh perspective to a character audiences think they know so well. 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."
Who is Edward Bluemel?
Edward, 33, is perhaps best known for his roles in Sex Education, Killing Eve, A Discovery of Witches, Ten Percent, My Lady Jane, We Might Regret This and Washington Black.
It's not his first time starring in an Agatha Christie adaptation, having played Jimmy Thesiger in the Netflix series Agatha Christie's Seven Dials, which was released earlier this year.
© NetflixOn his casting, Edward said in a previous statement: "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."
When will Hercule be released?
Hercule will premiere on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, and BritBox in North America in 2027.
