Death on the Nile could prove to be one of 2022’s most interesting new movies. Based on a 1937 book by Agatha Christie, this murder mystery is directed by Kenneth Branagh as a follow-up to 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express, so what can we expect from it?
What Do We Know About It?
The main character in this film is the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, who is played by Branagh. Other big-name actors taking part include Tom Bateman, Russell Brand, Annette Bening, and Dawn French. This is certainly not the first attempt at translating the notable Christie title to the silver screen. In fact, this is the second time that Death on the Nile has been adapted for TV/film audiences and it has also been presented on the theatrical stage on numerous occasions.
The movie sees a group of seemingly unsuspecting passengers on the S.S Karnak discover that one of their fellows has been murdered. Poirot is given the task of working out who committed the crime before they are able to claim any other victims.
Director Branagh has called it a “very entertaining movie”, adding that a lot of avid Christie fans want to see it. However, he also admitted recently that he isn’t sure when the movie is going to finally see the light of day, following a difficult production process that has dragged on for much longer than expected.
The release has been delayed several times already, but it is now loosely penciled in for release by 20th Century Studios on February 11th, 2022, although that date is subject to change.
The Continuing Appeal of Ancient Egypt in Popular Culture
Many of the action scenes were filmed in studios in London, while the cast also went to Morocco to film on location, though it was originally meant to be filmed in Egypt. Despite this last-minute location substitution, it’s almost inevitable that most viewers will fail to see the subtle differences in the mise-en-scene and the location will pass as authentic.
Egypt’s allure has been felt across a number of platforms including literature and film: from 1932’s The Mummy to 2014’s Exodus: Gods and Kings from director Ridley Scott, with many more in between. Dramatic settings like the pyramids and iconic characters such as Cleopatra and Tutankhamun together with a fascinating culture have long made it one of the most frequent movie settings.
We can also see that Egypt is well-represented in other elements of popular culture such as video games. For example, several of Lara Croft’s globe-trotting adventures in Tomb Raider take place here while The Sims, Call of Duty, and various other franchises have also visited the country in different games.
Ancient Egypt is a recurring theme in the slots world too. Among the most popular fan-favorites are titles such as Eye of Horus, the Sphinx, and the Fortunes of Egypt title by G-Tech. Evidently, the slots are attractive enough to players due to the gameplay and theme, yet casino establishments further pull in new players by backing certain titles, including the aforementioned Fortunes of Egypt, as online gambling slots with free coins as well as other money-saving promotions. These free games let new players sample slots before choosing a casino bonus to start playing with real money.
What Can We Expect in the Future?
There have already been talks of a cinematic universe made up of Agatha Christie stories, with Branagh pointing out that the writer produced dozens of books and short stories that could easily be translated to the big screen. If Death on the Nile proves to be a success, we can expect to see more of Poirot and other enduring Agatha Christie characters on the silver screen in years to come.
Featured image: 20th Century Studios.
