ITV Signs Up for More Poirot, Marple

LONDON, October 30: Chorion has inked an output deal to provide
ITV with eight new Agatha
Christie adaptations for broadcast in 2009 and 2010, including a new take on
the classic Murder on the Orient Express.

The deal calls for four Miss Marple films with Cranford’s Julie McKenzie in the title
role, taking over from Geraldine
McEwan, who is retiring after three years in the part; and four Poirot films
featuring David Suchet, who next year celebrates 20 years in the role of the
iconic Belgian detective. Among the new Poirot films will be his take on Murder on the Orient Express, which will
be filmed during the 75th anniversary year of the first publication of Agatha
Christie’s original 1934 novel.

Both the
Marple and Poirot TV franchises are distributed internationally by ITV Global
Entertainment.

—By
Mansha Daswani