Murder on the Orient Express: Brian J. Smith steps into Anthony Perkins role

Brian J. Smith steps into Anthony Perkins role

Brian J. Smith of "Stargate Universe" plays Hector MacQueen in the new ITV production of Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express."

Brian J. Smith is filming "Murder on the Orient Express." MGM photo

Anyone who watches PBS' "Masterpiece Mystery" knows actor David Suchet's marvelous take on sleuth Hercule Poirot, Christie's most famous character. The film will air sometime in 2010 on "Masterpiece Mystery," a PBS rep told me.

According to ITV, four new Poirot films already have been filmed: "Appointment with Death," "The Clocks," "Three Act Tragedy" and "Hallowe'en Party." The rep did not know how many would be part of next year's "Masterpiece Mystery."

Smith, who plays Lt. Matthew Scott on "SGU," steps into the role that was played in the original 1974 film of "Orient Express" by Anthony Perkins. MacQueen is the personal assistant to ruthless American businessman Samuel Ratchett, who offers Poirot $10,000 to watch his back. The sleuth refuses, and Ratchett is found dead the next day. (Don't worry, that is NOT a spoiler!)

The production, directed by Philip Martin, currently is filming in London. Along with Suchet and Smith, the all-star cast includes Dame Eileen Atkins, Barbara Hershey, David Morrissey, Toby Jones, Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Chastain, Sam Crane, Marie-Josée Croze, Serge Hazanavicius, Susanne Lothar, Joseph Mawle, Denis Ménochet, Elaina Satine, Stanley Weber and Samuel West.

Below you will find ITV's announcement, released Tuesday.

David Suchet will be back as Hercule Poirot.

"Hercule Poirot is visiting Istanbul, having solved a complex case for the British Army, when he witnesses an act of brutal justice on the streets. Relieved when a new case calls him back to London, Poirot's old acquaintance Xavier Bouc (Serge Hazanavicius), director of the Orient Express, secures him a last minute ticket. Among the eclectic range of passengers are Princess Dragomiroff (Dame Eileen Atkins) and her nervous maid Hildegard Schmidt (Susanne Lothar), English Governess Mary Debenham (Jessica Chastain) and Swedish missionary Greta Ohlsson (Marie-Josée Croze).

"During his journey on the Orient Express Poirot is approached by ruthless American businessman Samuel Ratchett (Toby Jones) who offers him ten thousand dollars to watch his back, but Poirot refuses. Could Ratchett be fearful of the Italian Antonio Foscarelli (Joseph Mawle), English Colonel John Arbuthnot (David Morrissey), pushy American Mrs Hubbard (Barbara Herhey) or Hungarian diplomat Count Andrenyi (Stanley Weber) and his wife, Countess Andrenyi (Elena Satine)? Poirot awakes the following morning to find the train stuck in a snowdrift and Ratchett dead in his compartment.

"Aided by amateur sleuth Dr Constantine (Samuel West), Poirot examines the murder scene and finds a proliferation of clues pointing in opposite directions. He interviews those who last saw Ratchett alive: his manservant Edward Masterman (Hugh Bonneville), personal assistant, Hector MacQueen (Brian J Smith), and conductor Pierre Michel (Denis Ménochet), before realising the true identity of Samuel Ratchett. The evidence seems to point to a mysterious assassin who got on and off the train but Poirot is not convinced. Isolated by the snow and with civilisation falling apart Poirot makes a decision that will change his life forever.

"Adapted by Stewart Harcourt (Agatha Christie's Marple, Dracula) and produced by Karen Thrussell (Agatha Christie's Marple), Murder on the Orient Express will be filmed on location in Malta and London. The Poirot films are co-produced by ITV Studios and Agatha Christie Ltd, a Chorion company, and US network WGBH. Mammoth Screen's Michele Buck and Damien Timmer executive produce Poirot on behalf of ITV Studios. Rebecca Eaton is executive producer for WGBH, with David Suchet as associate producer. ITV Global holds international distribution rights."

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