Edward Bluemel to star in Hercule on the BBC
Edward Bluemel is set to play Hercule Poirot in Hercule, the new BBC series.
Edward Bluemel has been cast as Hercule Poirot in Hercule.
The 33-year-old actor feels "very lucky" to have been cast as the iconic character from Agatha Christie novels in the new six-part BBC series, which has been written by Benji Walters.
Edward - who is known for his roles in Killing Eve and A Discovery of Witches - told the BBC: "I feel very lucky to have been trusted with such an iconic character who has been played by so many great actors. I can’t wait to continue Hercule’s legacy."
The upcoming series is being billed as an intimate study of Hercule the man and an "epic portrait of Britain between the wars".
The show will explore Poirot's friendship with Captain Arthur Hastings, his early encounters with Scotland Yard’s James Japp, and a particular nemesis.
James Prichard, the executive producer for Agatha Christie Limited, said: "My father had the privilege of working with David Suchet for nearly 25 years, and I now have the good fortune of being able to share my great grandmother’s brilliant stories with a new generation of viewers.
"Edward Bluemel is an extremely talented performer and will make a great addition to the long line of actors that have played this celebrated character, aided and abetted by Benji Walters’ thoughtful scripts. I cannot wait to see Edward on screen as Hercule Poirot."
Lindsay Salt, the director of BBC Drama, thinks Edward is the ideal actor to portray Poirot.
Lindsay said: "Hercule Poirot is one of the greatest and most loved characters of all time, and bringing him back to the BBC is a real privilege.
"From the first moments of Edward’s audition, we knew we’d found the perfect actor for Hercule, with a performance that feels both fresh and exciting, yet quintessentially Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. We can’t wait for viewers to meet him."
Meanwhile, Jon Farrar, the chief content officer of direct to consumer at BBC Studios, added: "Few characters in fiction are as iconic as Hercule Poirot.
"Agatha Christie’s stories have always been a cornerstone of BritBox and with Hercule, we have an opportunity to explore a fascinating new chapter in Hercule Poirot’s life, bringing a fresh perspective to a character audiences think they know so well."
