Kenneth Branagh and Gal Gadot’s Death on the Nile trailer arrives; barely features Armie Hammer

December 22, 2021 - 10:45 AM IST

Disney is finally forging ahead with plans to premiere Death on the Nile, the upcoming murder mystery thriller which is directed by and stars five-time Academy Award® nominee Kenneth Branagh and features an all-star ensemble cast, opens in theatres February 2022. After six delays across two years, the film is still on a bumpy road.

Kenneth Branagh and Gal Gadot’s Death on the Nile trailer arrives; barely features Armie Hammer

Armie Hammer, who plays a prominent role in the whodunit, has officially been ousted from Hollywood after facing sexual abuse allegations. The actor is barely featured in trailer but not completely cut out. Disney had already indicated the company had no plans to recast Hammer or cut around his role, following the allegations. In the newly released trailer, it’s clear the studio attempted to minimize, though not completely erase, his appearance. Throughout the two-minute clip, he materializes several times but barely utters a sentence of dialogue. Disney also revealed a new poster, in which Hammer is noticeably on display.

Following the allegations, Hammer has exited Jennifer Lopez’s Shotgun Wedding, the thriller Billion Dollar Spy, the Paramount Plus series The Offer and the Broadway play, The Minutes. He was also dropped by his talent agency, WME.

Based on the 1937 novel by Agatha Christie, Death on the Nile is a daring mystery-thriller about the emotional chaos and deadly consequences triggered by obsessive love. Kenneth Branagh, back as the iconic detective Hercule Poirot, is joined by Tom Bateman, four-time Oscar® nominee Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders and Letitia Wright.

Death on the Nile, which reunites the filmmaking team behind 2017’s global hit Murder on the Orient Express, is written by Michael Green, adapted from Christie’s novel, and is produced by Ridley Scott, Kenneth Branagh, p.g.a., Judy Hofflund, p.g.a. and Kevin J. Walsh, with Mark Gordon, Simon Kinberg, Matthew Jenkins, James Prichard and Mathew Prichard serving as executive producers.

Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple’s idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Set against an epic landscape of sweeping desert vistas and the majestic Giza pyramids, this dramatic tale of love gone wrong features a cosmopolitan group of impeccably dressed travellers and enough wicked twists and turns to leave audiences guessing until the final, shocking denouement.

Filmed with 65mm Panavision cameras in late 2019, Death on the Nile transports audiences to the 1930s, recreating many of the locations that served as inspiration for Christie’s glamorous, high society thriller.

With audiences returning to theatres, Disney has committed to an exclusive theatrical release for Death on the Nile. 20th Century Studios production president Steve Asbell says, “Ken’s sweeping, elegant vision for this classic story deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible. We’re so proud of this film, our brilliant cast, and the stellar work that went into bringing ‘Death on the Nile’ to screen. We know that audiences can’t wait to experience Hercule Poirot’s next adventure, and we’re thrilled to continue working with Ken as he lends his masterful storytelling vision to the newest film in this celebrated franchise.”

James Prichard, chairman and CEO of Agatha Christie Ltd., says, “More than 100 years after the publication of Agatha Christie’s first novel, her crime fiction works remain immensely popular and continue to be discovered anew by people around the world. I’m thrilled that Disney and our partners believe in this franchise, which has helped introduce millions of new fans to Christie’s classic works. We’re honored to be in business with Disney, Ken, and all who are dedicated to preserving the long legacy of these titles for future generations.”

Disney will release the film exclusively in theaters due to contractual obligations as a 20th Century acquisition adding to it, the movie has real commercial prospects on the big screen. After all, its predecessor, Murder on the Orient Express, was a huge box office success, earning more than $350 million at the worldwide box office.

Death on the Nile is scheduled for release on February 11, 2022.