Penelope Cruz has confirmed that she will join the cast of the upcoming adaptation of the classic Agatha Christie mystery Murder on the Orient Express.
The cast already includes Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Michael Pena, Judi Dench, Josh Gad, and Leslie Odom Jr, as well as Kenneth Branagh, who is not only directing, but starring as detective Hercule Poirot.
The 1934 novel follows Detective Poirot as he investigates the mysterious death of an American businessman aboard a train, only to find that thirteen passengers have a connection to the victim. This will not be the first adaptation of the novel, as there is a 1974 feature film directed by Sidney Lumet, and a 2001 TV movie.
There is no report on what role Cruz will be playing. Angelina Jolie was originally in consideration for the lead female role of ‘Mrs. Hubbard’, but dropped out in August, and was replaced by Michelle Pfeiffer.
Kenneth Branagh, Ridley Scott, and Mark Gordon are set to produce the film, along with Simon Kinberg, Aditya Sood, and Judy Hofflund, with Twentieth Century Fox to release the film.
Cruz can next be seen in Escobar alongside her husband Javier Bardem, set to be released in 2017. She is also attached to dramas Layover and This Man, This Woman, both in development currently.
Murder on the Orient Express is set to start filming this month, and to be released in 2017.